On the deck, however, she came to a pause. The _Flyaway_ was a good six feet from the dock, and between lay a stretch of dark, murky water the sight of which made her shiver. What if she should fall in? She felt that she would surely be drowned. But as Mrs. Goss came closer her terror increased. She felt that if she was caught she would be treated more harshly than ever for having attempted to run away. "I'll take the chances!" she though, and leaped as best she could. Her feet struck the very edge of the string piece beyond and for an instant it looked as if she must go over. But she clutched at a handy rail and quickly drew herself to a place of safety. And yet safety was but temporary, for Mrs. Goss followed her in her leap and struck the dock directly behind her. "Come back, you minx!" she cried, and caught Dora by the skirt. "I won't come back! Let me be!" screamed the girl, and tore herself loose, ripping her garment at the same time. Then she started up the dock as swiftly as her trembling limbs would carry her. But fate was against her, for as she gained the very head of the dock, Bill Goss appeared, followed by Baxter and Mumps. "Hullo, who's this?" cried the sailor. "The gal, sure as you are born!" "She is running away!" called out Mrs. Goss. "Stop her!" "Here, this will never do," roared Dan Baxter. "Come here, Dora Stanhope!" and he made a clutch at her. Soon the two boys were in pursuit, with the sailor close behind. Fortunately for the evildoers the spot was practically deserted, so that Dora could summon no assistance, even though she began to call for help at the top of her lungs. The girl had covered less than a half-block when Baxter ranged up alongside of her. "This won't work!" he said roughly. "Come back," and he held her tight. "Let me go!" she screamed. "Help! Help!" "Close her mouth!" put in Mumps. "If this keeps on we'll have the police down on us in no time!" Again his hand was placed over Dora's mouth, while Baxter caught her from behind. Then Goss came up. "We'll have to carry her," said the former bully of Putnam Hall. "Take her by the feet." "Wot's the meanin' o' this?" cried a voice out of the darkness, and the crowd found themselves confronted by a dirty-looking tramp who had been sleeping behind a pile of empty hogsheads. "Help me!" cried Dora. "Bring the police! Tell them I am Dora Stanhope of Cedarville, and that I--" She could get no further, for Mumps cut her short. "Dora Stanhope," repeated the tramp. "If you forget this, my man," said Baxter, "here's half a dollar for you. This lady is my cousin who is crazy. She just escaped from an asylum." "T'anks!" came from the tramp, and he pocketed the money in a hurry. Then he ran off in the darkness. "He's going to tell the police anyway!" cried Goss. "You had better get away from here." "You are right," responded Mumps. "Hurry up; I don't want to be arrested."