"What did you pitch into me for if you are not in good condition?" demanded Paul, who was good-natured enough by this time to smile. "I didn't think you was so much of a feller, and I had to do what I did to-day," muttered Tom. "Why to-day?" demanded Paul. "Well, I agreed to do it." "Whom did you agree with?" continued Paul, picking up the stick the mighty strategist had brought from the woods. "It don't make no difference," whined Tom, evidently startled when he saw the weapon in the hand of his conqueror. "Yes, it does make all the difference in the world; and if you don't tell me in two seconds, I will take it out of your hide!" exclaimed the son of toil, demonstrating violently with the stick. "I didn't agree to do it, but Walk Billcord was to give me ten dollars for the job. He didn't say he would, but we understood one another," answered Tom, in mortal terror. "That's all I want to know," added Paul, as he walked towards the boat. He looked into the Dragon, but did not see the oars. He searched all about the beach without being able to find them. While he was thus engaged, the steamer came within a few feet of the shore. He concluded that the absence of the oars was a part of the cunning strategist's plan; and he was about to return to the tree where Tom was tied, when the steamer rang one bell, followed by two. This meant stop and back her. Paul picked up the stick he had brought to the water side, and, without looking particularly at the Sylph, he pushed off the boat, and then gave it a hard shove with the short pole. The impetus carried the Dragon to the side of the steam yacht, and he sprang on board of her with the painter in his hand. CHAPTER XXIX. THE ENGINEER OF THE UNDINE. Paul Bristol was somewhat excited after his tough conflict with the strategetical bruiser. He was not a little startled to find that the Billcords were still trying to punish him for defending his sister from insult. Captain Gildrock was his friend and his mother's friend, and he was unwilling to do anything more with the pestilent bully without his advice and direction. He was confident that the exhibition of the stout stick would induce Tom to tell him where the oars were; but as the steamer was close to the shore, he preferred to take counsel before he acted any further. At first he forgot that the principal was not on board of the Sylph, but it came to his mind before he reached the bulwarks. But Dory was certainly on board, and he could advise and assist him. Passing the painter over a stanchion, he leaped over the rail. Then it struck him as a little strange that he saw none of the large ship's company that had manned her when she left the wharf in Beechwater that morning.