“Sartin, sure,” answered Captain DeMott. “I must give you credit for capable management,” Havens went on, with a smile. “How did you ever get me out of the stateroom?” DeMott chuckled, shaking his broad shoulders, but did not answer the question. Then his wicked face hardened. “Fishing for millionaires in New York,” he commented, “is about the surest and safest sport a-going at this time.” The old fellow poured himself a liberal portion of whiskey from the bottle and drank it greedily, smacking his lips heartily. “We had trouble getting you to the house,” he finally said, “and were afraid to carry you from there on board the _Nancy_. So the old woman says to me that if we would leave you to her care for a short time, she’d send you into the cabin of this here vessel of your own accord.” “Very cleverly done!” commented Havens. The man took another drink out of the bottle and refilled his foul briar pipe. Havens sat in a brown study during the latter operation. Captain DeMott seemed to be the only person besides himself on board the boat, and he was wondering if it would be possible to overcome the fellow and secure his freedom. Once out of the boat and into the river, he would be safe from pursuit, for a police barge would undoubtedly spring into motion at the splash. Desperate as the situation was, the young millionaire decided that he ought at least to make the attempt. Presently DeMott, probably entering upon a small celebration in honor of an adventure so craftily carried out, stepped to the cupboard and brought forth another bottle of liquor. “You needn’t mind inspecting the fastenings of the hatch or the windows,” leered the captain as he seated himself again. “I saw you doing of it while I was at the cupboard, so I’ll tell you for your own information that the hatch is locked down hard and fast, and that the windows are likewise fastened.” Havens smiled grimly but made no reply. “Likewise,” continued the captain, his voice growing slightly unsteady, “I hold in these here pockets of mine two automatic revolvers which I have a habit of using in case anything unpleasant turns up.” “I presume,” Havens said after a time, “that the offer I made to Mother DeMott would be rejected by you.” “I haven’t seen Mother DeMott,” was the answer. “I offered her twenty-five thousand dollars,” said Havens. “That is a tidy sum, too,” the captain mumbled. “And yet,” he went on, “what would twenty-five thousand bucks amount to if one got a knife in his back for the taking of ’em?” “You seem to be connected with a cheerful sort of a gang,” Havens suggested. “I don’t think I’d like such associates.” “It’s a gang that meets treachery with cold steel!” said the captain savagely. “Always cold steel for traitors!” “I’ve heard,” Havens observed in a moment, “that Phillips and Mendoza regard human life very lightly.” Captain DeMott sprang to his feet with an oath.