"I don't want a mouthful." And Dora spoke the truth, for the food would have choked her. "You had better have a sandwich and a glass of milk." "If you want to do something, give me a glass of water," she said finally, for she wished a drink badly, the cabin was so hot and stuffy. Baxter went away, and presently unlocked the door and handed her the water, of which she drank eagerly. "Where are you going to take me?" she questioned, as she passed back the glass. "You'll learn that all in good time, Dora. Come, why not take the whole matter easy?" went on the bully, as he dropped into a seat near her. "How can I take it easy?" "We won't hurt you--I'll give you my word on that." She was about to say that his word was not worth giving, but restrained herself. If she angered Baxter, there was no telling what the fellow might do. "Is this a plot of Josiah Crabtree's?" she asked sharply. Baxter started. "How did you--" he began, and stopped short. "You had better not ask any questions." "Which means that you will not answer any?" "You can take it that way if you want to, Dora." "It was a mean trick you played on me." "Let's talk of something else. We are going to leave the _Falcon_ soon, and I want to know if you are going with us quietly?" "Leave the _Falcon_?" "Yes, at Cayuga." "Are we there already?" gasped Dora in dismay. "We soon will be." "I don't wish to go with you." "But we want you to go. If you go quietly all will be well--and I'll promise to see you safe home in less than twenty-four hours." "You wish to keep me away from home that length of time?" "If you must know, yes." "And why? So Josiah Crabtree can--can--" She did not finish. "So that Mr. Crabtree can interview your mother--yes," put in Mumps, who had just appeared. "Baxter, there's no use in beating around the bush. Crabtree is bound to marry Mrs. Stanhope, and Dora may as well know it now as later." CHAPTER XVIII STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY "That man will never marry my mother with my consent!" burst out the unhappy girl. "She probably won't ask your consent," sneered Mumps. "She would not marry him if I was with her. He only has an influence over her when I am away." "Exactly--and he knows that," put in Baxter. "Do you mean to say Josiah Crabtree is going to marry her now?" demanded Dora, springing to her feet. "More than likely." "Then he--he hired you to carry me off?" "We'll talk about something else," said the bully. "Will you leave the _Falcon_ quietly?" "Where do you want me to go?" "To the home of an old lady who will treat you as nicely as she possibly can." Dora shook her head. "I don't wish to go anywhere excepting home, and I won't submit a bit longer than I have to." "Don't be foolish!" exclaimed Mumps. "We might treat you a good deal worse if we were of a mind to do so. Crabtree told us to bind and gag you." "He did?" "Yes. He says you are a perfect minx."