"Hang it!" the scoundrel added, "he's got a fist like a pile driver. Lay for him, Ross! I'm wabbling."
Before Motor Matt could turn and defend himself against Ross, Red-whiskers bolted through the open cabin door.
"Don't make so much noise, you fellows!" he called angrily. "Every house boat in the cove will be——"
Then he saw Matt. The latter had sprung to the edge of the deck with the plain intention of diving overboard.
Before he could carry out his plan Ross and the leader of the three men had him by each arm and had jerked him roughly back.
Matt struggled with all his power, but there were three against him, and he was thrown to the deck and dragged into the cabin, one of the men holding a hand over his mouth to prevent outcry.
The cabin was divided into two rooms, and Matt was half dragged and half carried through the darkness of the first room into the glaring lamplight of the one beyond.
"Put him in that chair over there," ordered the red-whiskered man. "You needn't be afraid he'll yell, Kinky," he added, with savage menace, "so take your hands from his mouth. If he lets out a whoop, or tries to bolt, I'll fire, even if the noise brings a tender from every house boat in the bay."
One look into the gleaming eyes of Red-whiskers was enough to warn Matt that discretion demanded passive compliance with the wishes of his captors.
Kinky removed his hands from Matt's lips, and Ross released his arms. Both men stepped to one side, glaring at him curiously and vindictively.