"Go aft, every one of you!" shouted Dory to the Topovers in the barge. "If you don't you will be overboard in a moment!"
The six oarsmen had been stationed in the middle of the boat, leaving the vacant places forward and aft. Without waiting for orders from Nim Splugger, the rowers all hurried aft as fast as the uneasy motion of the craft would permit. This change in her burden caused the bow of the Gildrock to be lifted out of the water, which was precisely what Dory desired. Putting the helm of Goldwing up he allowed the yacht to gather headway by slow degrees. He had lassoed the barge, but he was not certain of the effect when he should attempt to tow her. The slip-noose had come home so that the knot was nearly in line with the stem.
"I see now what you are about," said Matt, while Dory was experimenting with the process of towing the barge. "But those fellows will cut the line as soon as they get a little used to the movement of the boat and understand what you are doing."
"If any one of them attempts to go forward, we can pitch him into the lake as quick as we can shift the helm of the Goldwing," replied Dory confidently.
"I see!" exclaimed Matt, laughing. "A pull sideways would heel the barge over so that the water would go over her gunwale."
"The two four-oar boats are coming!" shouted Dick Short, "Mr. Jepson is in one of them."
"Good! We may want some of those fellows before we get through with this business," replied the skipper.
"But what are you going to do with your game now that you have snared it, Dory?" asked Matt.
"I am going to put the Topovers ashore over here, and send the Gildrock home at once," answered Dory. "I should have told you about my plan, Matt, but I didn't believe in it myself until the last minute. I was sure you would laugh at it; and if I did not succeed in carrying it out I did not want you to have to bear any of the responsibility of its failure."