When he reached the “Housatonic,” he found the stowaways had not yet turned out, and he sent the steward to call them. They were not sorry to find a chance to return to New York, and they soon completed their toilets. They were handed into the boat, and were soon on board of the “Moonlight.” The cabin of the yacht was closed and locked when they came on deck. Capt. Bendig’s state-room was chosen for their prison, and they were conducted to it as soon as they came on board. They were taken down by the fore-hatch, for the door leading from the room into the cabin had been fastened before. The captain, without any explanations, shoved them into the room, and locked the door upon them; and there was no opening by which they could see out of the den, for it was only dimly lighted by blocks of glass in the deck. “What does all this mean?” demanded Lon, as the door was locked upon them. “We are locked in,” replied Matt. “I know it; but what is it for?” “Perhaps the captain thinks we may get back to the ship.” “I understand it,” added Lon, with a sudden flash of intelligence. “The captain of the ‘Housatonic’ believes we stole the money; and he is going to send us back to Midhampton by this vessel.” “Then the game is all up, and all our fun is spoiled again,” replied Matt, disgusted with the situation. “Here is a good bed; and we may as well turn in, and make the best of it. By and by, if they don’t let us out, we will smash that door down, and raise Cain generally,” added Lon, as he stretched himself on the bed in the berth. When he had locked his prisoners into the room, Capt. Bendig hurried his passengers out of the cabin into the boat that was waiting for them. All their baggage was put into the boat with them, and in a few moments more they were on their way to the “Housatonic;” confident that they were out of danger now, for the cutter was still two miles distant. As soon as they were gone, and he had fulfilled his contract with the master of the “Housatonic,” he gave orders for the yacht to be put about, and headed to the westward. He hardly gave a second thought to the prisoners in his state-room. He had no instruction in regard to them, except to land them in New York. The breeze freshened a little, and the “Moonlight” began to move through the water at a livelier pace. By this time Wade Brooks had slept all he could; and he left his bunk in the forecastle. When he learned from Pollish that the captain was at his breakfast in the cabin, he ventured to go on deck. In the distance he saw the “Housatonic,” standing to the south-west; and Pollish told him the passengers had gone on board of her. “The captain is at his breakfast; but as soon as he is done he will want to see you, my lad,” said the steward. “You had better get something to eat while you have a chance to do so; for you may not get another to-day.”