"We're going through the outer harbour--we've passed the light at the end of the quay. What do these people mean by carrying us out to sea? Copplestone!--with all submission to you--whether it's relevant or not, I wish we knew more of that captain chap!" "I know him," remarked Audrey. "I have been on this yacht before. His name is Andrius. He's an American--or American-Norwegian, or something like that." "And the crew?" asked Vickers. "Are they Scarhaven men?" "No," replied Audrey. "There isn't a Scarhaven man amongst them. My cousin--I mean--you know whom I mean--bought this yacht just as it stood, from an American millionaire early this spring, and he took over the captain, crew, and everything." "So--we're in the hands of strangers!" exclaimed Vickers, while Copplestone dug his hands into his pockets and began to stamp about. "I wish I'd known all that before we came on board." "But what harm can they do us?" said Audrey, incredulous of danger. "You don't suppose they'll want to murder us, surely! My own belief is that we never should have been locked up here if you hadn't let them know how much we know, Mr. Vickers." "Let them--I don't understand," said Vickers, turning a puzzled glance on her. "Why," replied Audrey with a laugh which convinced both men of her fearlessness, "you let the captain see that we know a great deal and he thereupon ran downstairs--presumably to tell somebody of what you said. And--here's the result!" "You think, then--" suggested Vickers. "You think that--" "I think the somebody--whoever he is--wants to know exactly how much we do know," answered Audrey with another laugh. "And so we're being carried off to be cross-examined--at somebody's leisure. Let's hope they won't use thumb-screws and that sort of thing. And anyway," she continued, looking from one to the other, "hadn't we better make the best of it? We're going out to sea, that's certain--here's the bar!" A sudden lifting of the thickly-carpeted floor, a dip to the left, another to the right, a plunge forward, a drop back, then a settling down to a steady persistent roll, showed her companions that Audrey was right--the yacht was crossing the bar which lay at the mouth of Scarhaven Bay. Outside that lay the North Sea, and Copplestone suddenly wondered which course the vessel was going to take, north, east, or south. But before he could put his thoughts into words, the door was suddenly unlocked, and Captain Andrius, suave, polite, deprecating, walked into the cabin. "A thousands pardons--and two words of explanation!" he exclaimed, as he executed a deep bow to his lady prisoner. "First--Miss Greyle, I have sent a message to your mother that you are quite safe and will join her in due course. Second--this is merely a temporary detention--you shall all be landed--all in good time." Vickers as a legal man, assumed his most professional air.