Evarts's face turned somewhat paler at this information of having an army officer on hand as a witness. "Do you call me a prisoner, too?" asked the man at the tiller uneasily. "Something like it, I guess," nodded Dick. "Say, but that's a pretty rank deal against an honest man," protested the skipper hoarsely. "I hired this boat out to that man, the one you call Evarts, but I didn't know what he was up to." "You didn't know that torpedoes are used for wicked work either, eh?" pressed Lieutenant Dick. "I'll swear that I didn't know what it was that he brought on board," cried the skipper. "Evarts said it was a new device for killing fish at wholesale." "You may be telling the truth," Tom broke in. "I am," declared the skipper eagerly. "Then explain it to the court," Reade continued. "If you can prove to a judge and a jury that you're an honest man, and always have been one, you may get off on the charge that will be made against you." "Then you don't believe me?" asked the skipper anxiously. "It isn't for me to say," Tom replied crisply. "It's a job for a judge and a jury." "Then I'm to be a prisoner?" "That's for the policeman here to say." "You're a prisoner, my man," nodded the policeman. "Now, sail your boat into the landing over yonder." "Some one else will sail it," retorted the skipper, angrily, as he abandoned his tiller. "I'll take the tiller," Harry suggested, and did so. He hauled in the sheet, brought the boat around and headed for the landing with the skill of an old sailor. "My man, since you don't want to sail the boat you'll have to go as a real prisoner," announced the policeman. He produced a pair of handcuffs, snapping them over the man's wrists. In a short time Harry brought the sailboat up to the landing. The motor boat had followed, but did not come all the way in. After the sail had been lowered and made snug the party took up its way, on foot, to the nearby town of Blixton. Justice Sampson was found, and consented to open court immediately. Officer Carnes brought his prisoners forward, stating the charge. The young engineers and the army officer gave their testimony. "The prisoners are held for trial, and bail fixed at five thousand dollars in each case," decided the court. The torpedo had been left on the sloop, in charge of a foreman. The justice now ordered two officers to go back and bring over the torpedo, which was to be held until a chemist could examine and take samples of whatever explosive might be found inside. As Dick was a United States Army officer, under orders to proceed to his post within the next few days, the court reduced his testimony to writing, and permitted Prescott to sign this under oath.