"What has she stopped there for?" asked Corny. "She couldn't very well help it, for she is hugging the bottom." "Hugging the bottom! What do you mean by that?" demanded Corny. "In plain English, she is aground." And the skipper proceeded to explain the situation to his companions. "Then, you knew what you were about all the time, Dory," said Thad, with something of admiration in his tones and manner. "I thought I did all the time; but I did not expect the Missisquoi would try to go over a place where the bottom is so near the top as it is on this shoal," answered Dory. "There is nearly seven miles of deep water to the eastward of this shoal to the head of Mallett's Bay. The lake is thirteen miles wide on just this line." "Were you going up Mallett's Bay?" "Not at all. I expected to run back and forth over this shoal until the Missisquoi had enough of it, and then I was going to Burlington." "Will the steamer get off the bottom?" "She was running at her best speed when she struck the bottom; and I don't believe she will get off in a hurry," replied Dory. "All we have to do is to go to Burlington, then," added Corny. "We won't be in a hurry about it," said Dory. "I want to see if she can get off. They are backing her now, and there is Captain Vesey at work with a pole. The steamer seems to stick hard. Her bow is about a foot out of water, but I think she is afloat at the stern. They may work her off if they manage it well." "That other chap has gone to work with a pole too," said Dick Short. "I hope they will have a good time," added Dory, as he put the schooner about, and headed her across the bow of the Missisquoi. The skipper wished to obtain a better view of the position of the steamer, to enable him to decide whether it was safe for him to proceed to Burlington. With the wind on the quarter, he ran within ten yards of the stem of the Missisquoi. As he approached her, he saw that her water-line was lifted at least a foot above the surface of the lake, indicating that she was firmly fixed on the hard bottom. "Hallo there, Dory Dornwood!" shouted Pearl Hawlinshed when the Goldwing came within hail of the steamer. "Come alongside! I want to see you." "What do you want of me?" asked the skipper. "I want to see you about that money," added Pearl. "What money?" "You know what money as well as I do!" roared Pearl with a string of oaths. "The money you stole at the hotel!" "The money Dory stole!" ejaculated Corny Minkfield, with a look of horror on his face. "What hotel? I didn't steal any money at any hotel," returned Dory, startled at the charge. "Yes, you did! It's no use to deny it. The landlord sent me off after you; and you'll have to pay for it, for the wild-goose chase you have led me on," cried Pearl, who had evidently lost his patience and his temper. "I didn't know any money had been stolen from a hotel; and I didn't steal it," cried Dory, as the Goldwing passed out of easy talking distance from the steamer.