"What's the row about? And why have you that gun?" he asked of Ned a bit sternly.
"Because I don't want that criminal to escape!" was Ned's answer.
"Criminal! Mr. Barton a criminal?" came in a startled chorus from many of the late houseboat party.
"A criminal!" said Tom Swift calmly but firmly. "A partner with his rascally uncle, Basil Cunningham, in the illegal operations on Dismal Mountain. I am Tom Swift, and Ned Newton and I have just escaped from that mountain of mystery. The criminals up there captured us and my House on Wheels. They held Ned and me prisoners and we overheard enough of their plots to send them all to jail. They're under arrest now," he added, giving more details and particulars of what had happened on Dismal Mountain. "And you'll be under arrest too, very shortly, Floyd Barton," concluded Tom.
"He may consider himself under arrest now," announced the dock man. "I'm a special officer and I'll take him into custody."
"You can't! You haven't a warrant!" stormed Floyd.
"I'll hold you until Mr. Swift can swear a warrant out," said the special officer, who knew and disliked Floyd Barton. "Come on now! Will you go peaceably or do you want the bracelets?" and from a pocket he took out shining handcuffs.
"All right!" said Barton, with a scowl at Tom Swift. "You win!"
CHAPTER XXV
WEDDING BELLS