"Of course I am to be captain, and Mr. Taylor is to have the boat to-day," added Ben. "Mr. Taylor can't have her to-day," said Lawry firmly. "I engaged her to Mr. Sherwood, and if anybody has her to-day, he must. That's all I want to say about it now." The young pilot turned on his heel and walked away. His brother and the creditor were conspirators, and he wanted nothing to do with them. He might have been less resolute, if he had not seen Mr. Sherwood's carriage stop at the head of the wharf. "Are you all ready, Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. The poor boy could make no reply; he burst into tears, and turned away from his kind friend. "What's the matter, Lawry?" demanded Mr. Sherwood. "I suppose he feels bad, sir," interposed the sheriff. "The boat has been attached for his father's debts." "For his father's debts!" exclaimed the rich gentleman. The officer gave him a full explanation of the case. "This will never do," added Mr. Sherwood indignantly. "This boat is Lawry's property in his own right." "I think not," added Taylor. "Here's my lawyer; he can explain the matter to you." "No explanation is needed," replied Mr. Sherwood. "The boy is a minor," said the legal gentleman. "He may need a guardian, nothing more, to enable him to hold the property." "Perhaps you are more familiar with the law than I am, Mr. Sherwood," said the legal gentleman pompously. "You gave this boat to the boy." "I did." "While she lay at the bottom of the lake she was worth nothing. She was an abandoned wreck. If you had any property at all in her, it was subject to the salvage. Lawry Wilford raised her. I suppose you are willing to believe that the boy's father is entitled to his earnings?" "I grant that." "Well, sir, whatever the boy earned in the way of salvage belongs to his father; and we sue to recover that." "This is a ridiculous suit!" exclaimed Mr. Sherwood. "Perhaps it is, sir, but we shall hold the boat, subject to the decision of the court." Mr. Sherwood was vexed and perplexed; for, whether the claim could be substantiated or not, the _Woodville_ could be held until a decision was reached. Lawry then took him aside, and told him what his brother had done, in order to make himself captain of the steamer. "Is that it, Lawry? I'm more sorry for your brother's sake than I am for yours. I pity him, because he has been capable of doing so mean a thing. Don't distress yourself, my boy. We will make this all right in the course of ten minutes." "But they have taken the steamer away from me, and given her up to Ben, who is to take charge of her." "Never mind, Lawry. They shall give her back to you," replied the rich man, as he walked up to the lawyer. "How much is your claim against Mr. Wilford?" "One thousand and sixty-four dollars," answered the legal gentleman. "Will you take my draft or check for the amount?" "No, sir." "I see you are not disposed to be accommodating."