at into the
water, doubtless to see how deep it was.

"How deep is the water ahead, Dory Dornwood?" asked the skipper, when he
seemed to be bewildered, and evidently expected the boat to take the
bottom every moment.

"If you are going to sail the boat, you must do it alone," replied Dory
after a little hesitation. "I won't do any thing to help you as things
are now."

"Goldwing, ahoy!" shouted some one with a gruff voice in the forward
part of the Sylph.

But the steam-yacht had stopped her propeller, and immediately began to
back. Her pilot knew how deep the water was on the shoal. Pearl made no
reply to the hail, and the schooner continued on her course. Off Tromp's
Point she struck her centre-board; but, as she was going before the
wind, she did not need it, and Pearl hauled it up so that the boat slid
over the shallow place.

The man with the gruff voice hailed the boat again; but the skipper did
not respond. Pearl hauled in his sheets, and headed the boat to the
north-west. The steamer then went through the channel.

"I will play your game upon him, Dory Dornwood," said Pearl, as he put
the boat about.

The Sylph stopped her propeller again.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE GAME AMONG THE SHALLOWS

The Sylph was bothered by the last movement of the Goldwing. No one knew
what she wanted; but she had demonstrated that she was after the
schooner, and had business with her. Pearl seemed to be delighted with
the success of his manoeuvre. He had to drop the centre-board, and
beat back. He gave the point a wide berth in standing to the north-west.

"We can keep her going back and forth through the channel till night,"
said Pearl in high glee. "This is really exciting business, and I enjoy
it more than I should a game of cards. I am much obliged to you, Dory
Dornwood, for showing me this little trick."

Dory said nothing; for he saw that the game was not the same that he had
played early in the morning. There was an element in the contest which
had not entered into that between the Goldwing and the Missisquoi; and
he thought Pearl was very stupid not to see it. He did not point it out,
or even hint at it. He hoped and expected that the interference of the
Sylph would restore the schooner to him; and that was all he cared for,
though he was quite willing that Peppers should capture and take his
prisoner to Plattsburgh.

The steam-yacht started her screw again, and went ahead. In the Gut she
came about, and pas