"I don't think I understand you any better than you understand me," said Dory, when it occurred to him that Ripples might be an honest young man, even if he did drink beer. "Do you understand it, Mack?" asked Ripples, turning to his fellow-prisoner at his side. "Don't ask me any thing about it, Fred," replied Mack, in a tone of disgust. "Some of us are in a bad scrape, and I shall not say a word to any one." "I don't understand you any better than I do this other fellow," continued Ripples. "If I am in a bad scrape, I don't know it." Mack refused to say another word, and evidently did not mean to commit himself. By this time, Dory had become not a little impressed by the manner of Ripples, and by the refusal of Mack to speak. He removed the line which bound the former to the rail, and led him to the quarter-deck, where he seated him on the companion. Then he took the tiller. "I should really like to know what you mean by what you have said and done," said Ripples. "Are you not a member of the Nautifelers Club?" asked Dory. "Without a doubt, I am; and the Club was formed for this excursion during the summer. We joined the vessel this morning, and Mack said you were trying to get the schooner away from the Club when you fastened us all below. That's all I know about this business," added Ripples. "If you don't know any thing more, I am glad of it." "I haven't the least idea what Mack means when he says he is in a bad scrape," he continued. "He told you the truth; and he will probably get some years in the State prison for his share in the operations of last night." "Is that so?" asked Ripples, apparently appalled at the intelligence. "Can you tell me what has become of Angy? None of these fellows seem to know." "They don't know, and I shall not tell you just yet; though he is in just as bad a scrape as Mack. When was this club formed?" asked Dory. "About a month ago. Angy was the leading spirit in getting it up. He said the rich fellows would find the money to pay the bills, and we should have a first-class time for two or three months on the lake. I put in fifty dollars to start the thing, and three or four of the fellows did the same." "But how happened you to be separated from the others?" asked the skipper. "Angy did not want the whole of us to come at first." "Why not?" asked Dory, who was beginning to see through the business. "I don't know. He said the vessel would not be ready, and he would write to us when she was fit to take us on board. He did write to us the other day, and told us to come to Ticonderoga yesterday, and then to come on to Westport if the La Motte was not there." "You did not find her there?"