“Then the Maud, is really in this bay?” interposed, the captain. “I was sure she was here after all I had heard, if she was anywhere on the coast.” “Which she is there, and just where she was before when I first went on board, of ’er,” continued Bickling. “Flounder knocked me down just as soon as we ’ad made sure the Maud was there.” “How far off were you when you saw her?” asked Louis. “Which I couldn’t say hexactly, but about as far off as that point is from us now. Then Flounder which ’e says to me that we would go on board the Maud, sir, and which I says no, I would not go any nearer to ’er, sir.” Bickling then went on to say that Flounder had threatened to kill him if he did not go with him, and had tried to tie his hands with his handkerchief. He had cried out with all his might, when the ruffian had stuffed his handkerchief into his mouth. He had struggled to get away from him, for he was afraid of him. Then Mr. Belgrave “’ad come up, which ’e was very glad to see ’im.” Louis related the rest of the narrative, including all that occurred in the boat. The final reduction of the prisoner to subjection reminded him of the package of papers he had transferred to his own pocket from that of the recruit, and he produced them. The first that attracted his attention was a letter, postmarked at Shark River the morning of the day before. The captain thought this was the nearest post-office to the inlet. Louis did not hesitate to open the letter, for he felt that he was fighting an enemy in ambush. It was his first care to look at the signature, which was “Wade Farrongate;” and the letter was in the familiar handwriting of John Scoble. Turning to the address of the letter, he read the name of “Ovid Kimpton.” Doubtless this was Flounder’s real name. The letter instructed him to go at once to Von Blonk Park, find Louis Belgrave, and follow him night and day wherever he went. The missive also contained some explanation of what he was about and where he was, including the statement of his intention to sail for Bermuda as soon as he could do so without the danger of being pursued. The movements of Flounder were thus explained. Probably he had gone to the Park, and, learning that Louis had gone away by train the day before, and that his return was expected, he had waited for him at the station, where he had met Bickling, who had told him all he wanted to know. “What shall we do, Captain Brisbane?” he asked when he had finished. “Nothing; Captain Ringgold told me to do nothing if we found the Maud.” Louis was within a mile of his mother, and could do nothing. CHAPTER XXVIII THE LAST OF THE PHANTOM The letter promised to pay Kimpton twenty dollars a day for his services; and perhaps this was the strongest reason why he wished to see his employer. Captain Brisbane went up to the pilot-house again to finish his nap, leaving Louis and the cook on the forward deck.