A steam-yacht that would cost in the vicinity of a hundred thousand dollars, and whose running-expenses would amount to a large sum, was a tremendously big question to the young man of sixteen who had always lived in plenty, but never in luxury. But he did not feel that he was to be responsible for the financial settlement of the question, for Uncle Moses could veto the plan without even a word of explanation if he was so disposed. “How big is this yacht of which you speak, Captain Ringgold?” asked Louis, still appalled at the thought of such a heavy investment. “I am not very sure on that point, though she is big enough for a voyage around the world,” replied the captain. “My impression is that she is a vessel of about six hundred tons, though she may be considerably smaller than that.” “Do you believe we could get my mother back if we had her?” “I feel reasonably sure of it, Louis. In fact, it looks like a very plain case to me,” replied the captain with enthusiasm. “We could sail around that old tub a dozen times a day, for I don’t believe the Maud can make more than eight knots an hour under the most favorable circumstances.” “How long do you suppose the Maud will remain in her present hiding-place, wherever it may be?” asked Louis. “Less than a day, I should suppose. Scoble is as much bothered to know what our movements will be, as we are to understand what he will do. As you told me the villain has no suspicion that the missing million has been reclaimed, and that you are now worth a million and a half, he will not expect a pursuit on a grand scale, such as we are now considering. He supposes you have an income of less than a thousand dollars a year, and he will not believe it possible that we can pursue him with anything more than a small sailing-vessel.” “He may have come out of his hole before this time, and gone on his way to Bermuda.” “He may, but I don’t believe he has. He will hardly believe that we can organize a pursuit before to-morrow morning, and he will hardly dare to come out before twenty-four hours from the present time.” “How long before the steam-yacht will be in readiness to sail?” “I cannot answer that question definitely; but not in less than a whole day, I should say. I believe she has her crew on board at the present time, for Colonel Singfield intended to sail in her the very day he died.” “But Scoble will get away from us before that time,” suggested Louis. “I am confident he will not come out of his hole before to-morrow night, and perhaps not till the next morning; but all this is guess-work, and he may be on his way to Bermuda at this moment. It is no use to follow him in a sailing-vessel. But here we are at the squire’s house, and there is a light in the office. I have no doubt he is very much worried about you and your mother.”