"Why to-day?" demanded Paul.
"Well, I agreed to do it."
"Whom did you agree with?" continued Paul, picking up the stick the mighty strategist had brought from the woods.
"It don't make no difference," whined Tom, evidently startled when he saw the weapon in the hand of his conqueror.
"Yes, it does make all the difference in the world; and if you don't tell me in two seconds, I will take it out of your hide!" exclaimed the son of toil, demonstrating violently with the stick.
"I didn't agree to do it, but Walk Billcord was to give me ten dollars for the job. He didn't say he would, but we understood one another," answered Tom, in mortal terror.
"That's all I want to know," added Paul, as he walked towards the boat.
He looked into the Dragon, but did not see the oars. He searched all about the beach without being able to find them. While he was thus engaged, the steamer came within a few feet of the shore. He concluded that the absence of the oars was a part of the cunning strategist's plan; and he was about to return to the tree where Tom was tied, when the steamer rang one bell, followed by two. This meant stop and back her.
Paul picked up the stick he had brought to the water side, and, without looking particularly at the Sylph, he pushed off the boat, and then gave it a hard shove with the short pole. The impetus carried the Dragon to the side of the steam yacht, and he sprang on board of her with the painter in his hand.