Paul was obliged to take a cross street to reach the house of Captain Bleeker, and he had to pass within a few rods of the elegant mansion. As he turned the corner, the chief of the six ruffians, who was called Buck Lamb by his fellow-students, discovered him, and the conference came to a sudden conclusion. The time for council had passed, and the time for action had come. Buck Lamb was an acknowledged leader, and, without any appointment as such, he assumed the position and began to give off his orders. Paul was in sight, going up the cross street with a letter in his hand. The back street ran parallel to the main street, and the object of the attack must be going to some house in that direction. Buck sent two of his force to the cross street next beyond that taken by Paul, with orders to intercept the victim if he went that way. Two more were to remain near the mansion of the magnate, and Buck himself, with Ham Jackson, followed Paul. One of the two parties was sure to meet him, or if they failed, by any accident, the pair on the main street were in position to capture him. It was a quiet little place, and there was scarcely a person in the streets after the procession had marched to the wharf. Paul Bristol, all unconscious of what had been done to make him a prisoner, walked with a rapid step towards the house of the person to whom the letter was addressed. He had not noticed the movements of the six ruffians, or even that any of the Chesterfields had been left behind. He was thinking that the students would soon reach Sandy Point with Major Billcord, and he was engaged in picturing their astonishment and disappointment when they discovered that the cottage had taken to itself wings, and that the locality had assumed its original appearance. He went up to the door of the house, and rang the bell. It was answered by Captain Bleeker himself. He seemed to be somewhat surprised when he saw Paul, for he had been expecting another person. "Is that you, Paul? I was in hopes that it was Bissell; for I expected an important letter as soon as the mail got in, and he promised to bring it over to me," said the captain. "He asked me to bring the letter over, and here it is," replied Paul, as he handed the important missive to him. "Good! It contains a draft which I need as much as I need the air I breathe," added Captain Bleeker, as he took the letter, and thrust his hand deep into one of his trousers pockets, drawing forth a quarter. "I am more glad to see you than I should be to meet my grandmother, who died twenty-five years ago. Here is something to prove it;" and he handed him the quarter. "I don't want anything for this errand; I only did it because Mr. Bissell asked me to." "Take the money," said the captain imperatively. "If you come over here in about a week, I shall have something for you to do, for it will be time then to hoe the garden."