The encounter with the steamer and the desperate action of Parker Flynn furnished food for conversation on board the yacht. The boys talked it over and over, and it was the general opinion that the presence of Flynn and Snell in company on the steamer was not an accident. "We'll see more of those fellows before long," prophesied Diamond. "And it strikes me that Flynn is more dangerous than Snell, for he is a desperate fellow. If he had shot anybody on this boat there was no way of making it seem an accident. When Snell pushed you in front of the car he could have sworn it was an accident if the car had killed you. Look out for Parker Flynn." "I will," said Merriwell. It was nearly nine o'clock before they rounded Owl's Head and pointed into Rockland harbor. The mist still hung on the water, and the outlines of the city were hidden. Frank, however, felt confident that he was all right. "We'll take dinner ashore if you say so, fellows," he said. "Oh, I don't know," said Jack. "I don't believe these natives down in this country know how to cook anything fit to eat." Frank smiled. "I fancy you have a few notions that will be knocked out of your head after you have been down this way a short time. You still seem to fancy you are going into a howling wilderness where there are only savages and half-civilized white people." "Perhaps we are," said Jack, by way of being odd. "You don't know yourself, for this is your first visit down here." Out through the mist came a tiny steam launch. All at once it was headed straight toward the _White Wings_. "She acts as if she is coming for us," said Hodge, scowling. As the launch came nearer five persons were seen in her. The interest of the boys increased rapidly, for everything seemed to indicate that she was making straight for the yacht. All at once Diamond uttered a cry, turned to Frank and said: "I knew it! I told you we'd see more of him! See the fellow in the bow of that launch? It's Parker Flynn!" CHAPTER V. A BOARDING PARTY. "Sure as shooting!" nodded Frank. "He is in a hurry to see me--that's plain." "Yes, he couldn't wait till we got into the harbor." "It's probable he thought we might not come into Rockland after seeing him on the steamer, and so, as soon as he could get ashore, he hired the launch to run out and head us off." "Snell is with him," said Hodge. "Oh, I'd like to get a crack at that fellow!" "You may have a chance," smiled Merriwell, coolly. "How?" "I don't propose to let those chaps come aboard my yacht unless they show that they have a right to do so." "Good for you!" cried Bart, his face growing stern. "I am with you, Merry!" "And I!" exclaimed Diamond. "Vale, I don'd knew but I vos re'dy vor a liddle schraps," observed Hans. "Then we will stand by to repel boarders if they try the trick," said Frank. "Call Browning on deck."