Louis went to the hotel and made the arrangement for the trip with Mr. Fobbington. On his return to the squire’s house, he found that Felix McGavonty, who had been a crony of Louis since both of them wore short clothes, also desired to see the Oxford, and Uncle Moses gave his consent. At the appointed time the party arrived at the station in Southfield, and Mr. Frinks Fobbington was there to receive them. Louis thought he looked very much disconcerted about something, though he could not imagine why he was so. “I am glad to see you, Louis,” said Frinks, as he took the hand of the young nabob, though he did not gush as he had the day before. “But I did not suppose you were going to bring the whole population of the Park with you.” The unexpected number of the party seemed to be the cause of the dissatisfaction on the part of the owner of the Oxford, though Louis could not understand why this should annoy him. He introduced his mother and the others. “This is Captain Ringgold,” said he, in presenting him. “He is an expert in vessels, and I wanted his opinion of the Oxford.” The party took a carriage and proceeded to a wharf. [Illustration: “AS HE REACHED THE FOOT OF THE COMPANION-WAY, HE DISCOVERED JOHN SCOBLE.” Page 34.] CHAPTER V THE VICTIM OF A CONSPIRACY “Where is your vessel, Mr. Fobbington?” asked Louis, after the party had alighted from the carriage at the wharf, at which there was not a single craft of any kind. “There she is,” replied the owner of the Oxford, pointing at a schooner, painted white, at a considerable distance from the shore, with her foresail and mainsail flapping and banging in the fresh breeze. A boat with two oarsmen was waiting at the wharf for the party, and the Parkites embarked immediately. The Oxford was anchored at a short stay in the middle of a landlocked bay, and the water was smooth, so that the lady was not affected by the motion. The visitors went up the accommodation steps to the deck of the vessel. She presented a neat appearance, though there was nothing gaudy or stylish about her, and Louis and Captain Ringgold proceeded to examine her. When the boat was hoisted up at the stern-davits, the two sailors went forward, and began to trip the anchor. Without any orders from the owner and captain they then hoisted the jib. Before the party were fully aware what was going on, the schooner was under way, and standing out of the bay. “What are you about, Mr. Fobbington?” demanded Louis, rushing up to the British millionaire at the wheel. “Oh, it’s all right; I wanted you and your friends to see the vessel under way, for you want to know whether she can sail or not,” replied Mr. Fobbington, with what seemed to Louis to be a mocking laugh. “Why, yes, Louis; we want to see her sail,” interposed Captain Ringgold. “I should like to know how she works before I give my opinion of her, though perhaps I had better go into the hold and look at her timbers before we get into rough water.”