"Can't get the _Albatross_!" thought Dick, in dismay. "That will be too bad! I'll never care for any other yacht as I did for her. But I suppose I'd better go and see Mr. Blake. Queer, though, that they didn't tell me in the office how things were. Maybe they didn't know, or this may have cropped up after I left. I'll go and see the other boat, anyhow." Dick started for the anchorage of the _Princess_, and, as he was about to engage a taxicab, he bethought himself of the old sailor on the _Albatross_. "Widdy would be just the one to take along," reasoned Dick. "He knows all about yachts--more than either Mr. Blake or myself. I've a good notion to go get him, and see what he has to say. Even if we do have to take a different craft from the _Albatross_, I'd like Widdy to sail with me. I'll go get him." The old sailor, who knew nothing of the hitch in the arrangements to sell the yacht he was on, was a bit surprised at Dick's proposition, but readily agreed to accompany him. He left one of his on-shore acquaintances in charge of the _Albatross_. "But as fer findin' as good a boat as that," said Widdy, waving his hand toward her, as he and Dick were speeding shoreward in a motor launch, "you can't do it. Split my lee scuppers if you can!" And Dick, with a sigh, agreed with him. His heart was set on the _Albatross_. At the foot of One Hundred and Eightieth Street Dick and the old sea dog found a small motorboat in waiting. "Is this the launch of the _Princess_?" asked Dick of the man in charge. "No, it's a public launch, but I can take you out to her in it. There's the yacht, out there. A gentleman on board told me he was expecting a visitor, and I said I'd wait around and bring him out. Are you the one?" "I expect so," answered the young millionaire, and his eyes were taking in the details of the yacht _Princess_. He did not like her, at first view. She was too small, and there was none of that trimness about her which marked the _Albatross_. "That's nothing but a dinghy with an engine in her," was the contemptuous remark of Widdy, as he relighted his short pipe, which was assuming a black hue, like unto the one he had smashed on deck. "Well, we'll go aboard," decided Dick. "I want to hear what Mr. Blake has to say." A few minutes later he and the old salt were ascending the accommodation ladder of the _Princess_. They were met by a sailor in uniform. "You'll find him below," he said to Dick, without being asked any questions, and he motioned to an after companionway. Dick started down. Had he but known it the young millionaire was entering the trap set for him. CHAPTER VII THE ESCAPE