I was about to reply, when Mr. Ranson caught me by the arm and shook his head.
"Don"t waste time talking to him," said the lawyer. "He will do and say what he can to get free, but it will not avail him--he will only twist himself up."
"Will I?" sneered Captain Hannock.
"You will. You had better remain quiet and think over what you"ll have to say when you come up for a hearing in court."
In a moment more Mr. Henshaw reappeared, with the information that since Lowell had objected so strongly to the coal locker they had put him in the oil closet (the rankest place on board), and now there were two lockers for the two remaining prisoners.
Despite their protestations, Captain Hannock and Crocker were quickly transferred to their improvised cells. They did not wish to be separated, but Mr. Henshaw would have it no other way.
And then we steamed for Boston harbor.
CHAPTER XXVI.
ON LAND ONCE MORE.
The Disdain was a fine yacht, and the morning was all that could be desired. After the prisoners had been disposed of we all went on deck and had a talk over the affair.
I learned that the Disdain had been chartered by Mr. Ranson. He had found Captain Flagg without anything to do, a party that was to have gone out for a week"s cruise having disappointed him at the last moment.
It had not taken long to get the yacht in trim for the trip, and in the mean time the lawyer had hunted up Mr. Henshaw and related the particulars of the case.
The government officer had taken the matter in charge without hesitation. I did not know his exact authority, but Mr. Ranson a.s.sured me that it was amply sufficient for the occasion, and on this I rested content.
"What will you do when we arrive in Boston?" the lawyer asked me after a while.
"I don"t know, sir. I suppose I will be wanted at the examination."
"Of course."
"The trouble is I haven"t any money," I went on, thinking it would be best that my friend should know the exact condition of affairs. "I had four dollars and a half, but Captain Hannock or Lowell took it from me."
"Don"t let that worry you," he replied with a smile. "Saving my life was worth considerable to me, and I do not intend to forget it."
"If you will lend me ten or fifteen dollars----" I began.
"You shall have a hundred if you wish."
"I don"t want so much. I intend to pay you back."
"You need not, I----"
"I want to, though."
"You can suit yourself. But let me say that I am your friend, and I intend to help you all I can, not only here, but when you reach New York. Your uncle will probably have you arrested as soon as you arrive, unless he has his hands too full of his own affairs, which I am inclined to believe will be so."
"I wish I could get at the bottom of that robbery," I went on earnestly.
"Depend upon it, it will all come out in the end. I have spoken to Henshaw about it, and he says he will give the full particulars to a fellow officer in New York who will willingly work it up."
"You are very kind," was all I could say.
"While you are in Boston you must be my guest," went on Mr. Ranson. "I have a legal connection there as well as in New York, and have rooms at the Ridgerow House."
This conversation relieved me of not a little anxiety. I thanked Mr.
Ranson again.
"And now about your companion," he went on. "What do you know concerning him?"
I gave him all the knowledge I possessed. Then Mr. Ranson called Phil aside and had a long talk with him.
"And so you are sick of the sea?" said the lawyer at length.
"Yes, sir; tired of the sight of it," exclaimed Phil. "I"d rather do anything on land than ship as a cabin boy again."
"Well, I"ll see what I can do towards getting you a place in some office or store, and until then I"ll find you a boarding-house and pay your board."
"But Captain Hannock is my guardian."
"He won"t be after he is convicted. Have you any relatives?"
"Only an old aunt down at Lynn."
"Do you like her?"
"Yes, sir; very much. But Captain Hannock would not let me visit her."
"Then she may perhaps become your guardian, and let you live in Boston, or wherever you find a place. I will fix it up for you if you wish."
"Oh, thank you."
And so it was arranged.
"Tell you what," said the cabin boy, when we were alone, "Mr. Ranson"s a brick!"
"You"re right, Phil," I replied, "and a gold one."
About noon Boston appeared, and shortly after we steamed up the bay. I had never visited the "Hub" before, and the sight was to me a novel and interesting one.
"We will anchor out in the bay, and go ash.o.r.e in the small boat," said Captain Flagg. "Mr. Henshaw wishes to transact some business before the prisoners are transferred."
"Can we go ash.o.r.e?" I asked.
"You will have to ask Mr. Henshaw."