"Mr. Emerson," urged the boatbuilder, "will you walk on the other side of Captain Benson's prisoner? I want to make sure that no attempt at rescue is made."
Broughton Emerson readily nodded his agreement, and stepped up ahead.
As for Don, he fell in behind this group, while Messrs. Melville and
Farnum walked still more to the rear.
"Now, what does this whole affair mean?" demanded George Melville.
"As far as I understand it," answered Jack's employer, stiffly, "it looks as though your son and yourself had framed up a scene, to be witnessed in poor light, at night, in which my young captain would appear to be hound enough to sell out Pollard's business secrets, and mine."
"I can assure you," said the capitalist, coldly, "that I had nothing to do with any deception."
"Then your son, without your knowledge, fixed up to-night's affair."
"You seem bound to fasten something upon my son."
"Well, Mr. Melville, can't you yourself understand that everything appears to point to Don as the prime mover in all this business?"
"I do not agree with you, sir."
"Well, perhaps that's hardly to be expected." laughed Jacob Farnum. "However, since the real Jack Benson wasn't in that little picture so neatly framed for inspection, let us get up closer to him, and ask him to tell us just what did happen."