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 pudent young scamp. First of all, that boy has got to come at once into my hands."

"Your hands!" retorted Philip, astonished.

"Yes, mine! I mean to have him, henceforth and forever, if I can! Hear that, please. I'm aboard this steamer on purpose to get him, as you will find out. I shall, inside of precious few hours, let me tell you. He belongs to me."

Philip was confounded. His notions had been correct. The second of his doubts was answered. Gerald—little Gerald—was the end of some villainous conspiracy! What could it be for, and how long had it been closing about him?

"That is false, you know," he replied, facing Belmont in the moonlight. "Gerald Saxton yours? What are you talking of? He is the son of a New York gentleman. You pretended to know his father. He is on his way with me to meet him. You cannot lay a finger on him! Captain Widgins—"

"Captain Widgins!" interrupted Belmont. "Captain Widgins knows all the whole affair just as I have given it to him. So do some other people on board this ship. Captain