Neither of the three conspirators were in a situation to see this movement on the part of Lawry. Ben was too much occupied in steering--for he was not a little fearful of getting aground in some shoal water between the ferry and the wharf--to notice anything; but as soon as he had obtained his course, he looked for his brother on the pier. He was not there; but Ben did not suspect that he was on board the _Woodville_. Baker, who knew just enough about an engine to stop and start it, was working the valves with the bar; and he could think of nothing else. Doubtless he was conscious by this time that he had "taken a big job," in assuming the control of the engine. Lawry was bewildered by the situation. When his feet struck the deck, his first impulse was to rush up to the wheel-house, and confront the difficulty as the case might require. He started to carry out his purpose, when he happened to look through one of the saloon windows, and discovered Ethan, with the handkerchief in his mouth, tied to the stanchion. Deeply as he sympathized with his friend in his unpleasant position, he was still cheered by the sight, for it assured him that the engineer had been faithful to his duties, and was not a party to the conspiracy. The little captain went round and entered the saloon by the door, without being seen by either of the conspirators. He removed the gag from Ethan's mouth, and proceeded to unfasten the cords with which he was bound. "What does all this mean, Ethan?" demanded Lawry, in excited tones, and almost crying with vexation. "Hush! Do they know you are here?" asked the engineer. "I think not; I don't know." "Keep still, then. They are after the gold." "Who are they?" "Ben and two other fellows. I don't know them." "We'll stop this thing very quick," said Lawry. "They are armed with pistols, and threatened to shoot all hands. Be careful, Lawry, or you will get a bullet through your head." "What shall we do?" demanded the young pilot. Ethan was an accomplished strategist. He led the way to the lower cabin, where the terrified women had been driven by the ruffians. "If any of those men ask for me, tell them I got loose, jumped overboard, and swam ashore," said Ethan. "Law sake!" exclaimed the cook. "Don't tell them I am here, at any rate." "I won't. Massy sake! What are we comin' to?" "Don't be alarmed; we will take care of these villains before we have done with them," added Ethan. "Hush! There's some one coming," said one of the girls; and the heavy tread of a man was heard on the deck above them. Ethan and Lawry had only time to crawl into one of the berths, where Mrs. Light covered them with bedclothes, before Flint came down into the cabin. "See here; we haven't been to supper, and we want some," said the ruffian, as he descended the steps. "What are you goin' to do with us?" demanded Mrs. Light. "Don't be scart; we won't hurt you," replied Flint. "But where you goin'?"