On arriving in Rockland, he found his chosen tools waiting for him, and he explained that the yacht _White Wings_ had been stolen from him. To convince McSwatt and Gardman, he showed the bill of sale which he held. He explained that he could not afford the time to recover the boat by regular process of law, and said that it would be an easy thing to take it from the boys who were on board. He showed money and paid his tools something in advance. A few drinks of liquor put them in the mood for almost anything, and then the steam launch was hired to go out in search of the _White Wings_, as Flynn feared the yacht might not come into Rockland at all. The owner of the launch was convinced that Flynn really owned the yacht, and had a right to take her by force if necessary, but he did not agree to have anything to do with the seizing of the boat further than putting the party alongside. Snell had warned Flynn that the party on the _White Wings_ was made up of fighters, but the man sneered at them as a lot of boys. It was not believed that there would be any real difficulty in obtaining possession of the yacht, but it was thought best that McSwatt should claim to be an officer. Thus it came about that the _White Wings_ was met by the steam launch as she headed into Rockland harbor. But the crew on board the launch met with the surprise of their lives, and they were thoroughly disgusted when they were beaten off without much difficulty. The two cracks Frank had given Flynn knocked some of the conceit and bravado out of him, and for some time after the yacht and the launch swung apart he sat still and swore. McSwatt was not in a pleasant mood as he wrung the water out of his clothes. He glared at Flynn and snarled: "Thought you said they were a lot of boys who could be scared out of their skins! Boys! Why, they are young devils! The fellow I went against is a regular Samson!" "They're in a bad scrape now," said Flynn, with an attempt at fierceness. "They have resisted the rightful owner of that yacht, and they shall smart for it." "That's all right, but they might have been fooled in a different way. Here they are running right into the harbor, and they will stop there. We might have watched till the most of them went ashore, and then we could have taken her easily." "How did I know they would run in here? They might have kept on up the bay. And I didn't suppose a lot of beardless chaps could put up such a scrap." "Well, we have done all you asked of us, and we want our pay." "Done! You haven't done anything! I hired you to help me take the yacht." "And misrepresented the case to us. You will pay me, or I'll chuck you overboard!" There was a glare in McSwatt's eyes that cowed Flynn. "Oh, we mustn't quarrel," he quickly said. "Of course, I will pay you, as I agreed." "I thought so."