"What does this mean? How dare you come aboard my boat without an invitation? Who are you, anyhow—Oh, it's Swift and partner!" he added with a sneer, as he recognized the twain.
"Swift and partner!" chuckled Ned. "And the partner's name isn't Slow, either," he added, as, putting out a hand, he caught Barton as the latter was about to leave. Perhaps the rascal suspected something of what was in the wind.
"What does this mean? Let me go! You have no right here!" stormed Barton.
Mary soon recovered from the upset caused by Barton's advances and stood beside Tom Swift. By this time the high voices from the cabin had attracted the attention of several of the houseboat party, and they turned back to see what the trouble was.
"Let me go!" snarled Barton to Ned. "If you don't——"
He made as if to strike Ned, but the latter, drawing his automatic said calmly:
"Now take it easy! You can't get away any more than that rascally uncle of yours can."
"My uncle! Is he——"
"By this time Mr. Cunningham and his gang of bandits in the castle are under arrest," said Ned, though as a matter of fact he did not know this. "The game is up, Barton!" he added grimly. "Ask Tom Swift if it isn't."
Tom, a happy smile on his lips as he stood beside Mary, nodded in affirmation. A desperate look came over Floyd Barton's face. He glanced about wildly as if for a way of escape. Then he suddenly pulled loose from Ned, but as he was about to run from the cabin he found himself in the arms of a burly dock officer who demanded: