"I hope they don't intend to capture the schooner," added the principal, with a smile. "Dory is a prudent young man, and I don't expect him to undertake any Munchausen adventures." "He said he was going to watch the schooner: he did not say he intended to capture the vessel," replied the carpenter. "How many persons were there on board of the schooner, Randolph?" asked the principal. "Five in all, all members of the Nautifelers Club," replied Matt. "The Nautifelers Club will not exist much longer. Under the present circumstances, we will defer the lecture on sailing to another day. The gale has subsided, and we will attend to the practical part of the lesson. Randolph, you will take your class in the Lily; Glovering, you may take Dory's class in his absence; the rest of you will man the two steamers." This announcement was received with applause, and Mr. Brookbine was instructed to take his prisoner to the lock-up. CHAPTER XIV. THE RESULT OF DORY'S STRATEGY. Dory Dornwood and Mr. Jepson watched the movements of the two men on the rafts as they approached the shore, driven before the strong wind, though it had ceased to be a furious gale by this time. The La Motte had swung round with her head to the wind, and the two members of the Nautifelers Club who remained on board of her had seated themselves on the taffrail to watch their progress. "They must understand by this time that something has happened to Spickles," said the instructor, as they looked out from their hiding-place in the trees. "Who is Spickles?" asked Dory, who had not heard the name of the leader before. "He is the fellow you call Angy, and his full name is Michael Angelo Spickles. The two given names appear to have been used to take off the curse of the homely last name; but Buonarotti is not honored in his namesake," added the instructor, laughing. "I saw him yesterday when he called at the school, and Matt Randolph told me something about him." "I saw the schooner in the river yesterday, but I did not go very near her. These fellows are a bad lot, and a few years in the State prison will do them good. I begin to feel as though it were breakfast-time," said Dory. "I have had a long tramp this morning." "I have the same feeling. But what are you going to do, Dory?" asked the instructor, to whom Dory had not yet explained his intentions, if he had any. "I don't know yet: that will depend upon what those fellows do. I should like to get possession of that schooner and the four fellows that belong to the gang; and I shall be willing to go without my breakfast for the sake of doing it," replied Dory. "I should like to sail the La Motte into Beechwater with these four fellows under the hatches." "Do you think of doing any thing of that sort?" asked the instructor, with no little astonishment on his face. "Not without your consent and assistance, Mr. Jepson." "That would be a rather bold enterprise, Dory."