“So much the better,” answered Uncle Moses, nodding his head half a dozen times to express his satisfaction more forcibly. “As long as the money has been found, and even if it had not been found, Mrs. Belgrave has nothing to fear from her late husband. With Louis I believe it would have been different; and I wonder these conspirators have not contrived some way to have him fall overboard. But what is to be done? We won’t waste even one of the dark minutes of the night.” “You are aware that just before we parted this morning I protested to you against the purchase of any old tub of a vessel for Louis,” replied Captain Ringgold. “I remember; and you said something about a steam-yacht, though I did not quite understand what you were driving at.” “I believe you ought not to permit Louis to risk his life in anything but the strongest and most seaworthy craft that can be built, and especially not in any such old death-trap as the Maud. Now will you excuse me if I ask what may seem to you to be impertinent questions?” continued the captain, very earnestly. “Certainly, my dear sir; I know now, if I did not know it before, that you are one of Louis’s best friends, and whatever you say will be for his good.” “I have something to propose, and I wish to know the extent of the young man’s fortune,” added the captain. “He has one million four hundred thousand dollars, well invested, besides a surplus of about one hundred thousand dollars, which I have kept on deposit for any emergency,” replied Squire Scarburn promptly. “I think the emergency has come, even independently of the kidnapping of the boy’s mother. Now, what is his probable income?” “Seventy thousand dollars; for his money will pay an average of five per cent, and I am confident it is safely placed.” “Good!” exclaimed the shipmaster. “Better than I supposed.” Captain Ringgold then introduced the subject of purchasing the steam-yacht as yet without a name. The good squire was startled when he named the price it was expected to pay for the vessel, and shook his head rather ominously. “I will give all I have in the world to get my mother back, and a hundred thousand dollars is nothing but a bagatelle compared with the safety and happiness of my mother!” exclaimed Louis, who had been listening eagerly to all that was said. “But I propose to pay one-half of the price, and own one-half of the vessel,” interposed Captain Ringgold. “And of course I shall pay one-half of the expense of running the steamer.”