Cannot you arrange to accommodate us?"

"This isn't a passenger vessel," stated the captain.

"Well, then, couldn't we sign articles and work our way over? We'd be
willing to pay whatever you think is right for that privilege."

"You want to get me into trouble with the authorities, don't you?"
replied the other, preparing to move away.

"But, Captain, just think a moment. There must be some way in which you
can arrange it. Don't leave us in a foreign country!"

"You seem to have done pretty well in foreign countries as it is! If you
can pull off the stunts you have just done I guess you'll get over to New
York all right--if that's where you want to go!"

"What do you mean? I don't understand you!"

"Oh, you don't, eh? Well, to put it plainly, this is a peaceable, neutral
ship doing honest trading. I carry freight, not spies!"

With these words the captain disappeared. The boys gasped in astonishment
at the words and looked at each other speechless.

Ned motioned to the boatman to return to the dock. His puzzled frown
showed plainly that the boy was at a loss to understand the situation.

"I've got it!" almost shouted Jimmie, as the lads were once more on land.
"I know what the answer is! I've been reading my little dream book!"

"All right, wise man, let's have it! Don't keep it bottled up!"

"Mackinder!" declared Jimmie impressively.

"You don't mean to say that he beat us to the ship and managed to get the
captain to refuse us passage on his vessel?" asked Ned.

"I believe I'm right at that!" maintained Jimmie, stoutly.

"Then the only thing we can do is to try to find some coasting vessel to
carry us out of the Zuider Zee into the North Sea and make a port in
England. We can then go overland to Liverpool and get a ship from there
home. Suppose we try that?" offered Ned.

The boys were passing along a covered dock at the moment. As they turned
a corner they saw Mackinder standing near. A smile of triumph lighted his
face.

CHAPTER IV

THE LENA KNOBLOCH

"What did I tell you?" inquired Jimmie, as the boys passed the man.
"There he stands with his arms folded and grins like a cream stealing
cat! I wish I had a half a brick! We'll have to watch out for him!"

"It surely looks as if you were right, Jimmie!" assented Ned.

"But what gets me," put in Harry, "is why he should be after us! What
have we done? He seems to have information that we're criminals!"

"It looks mighty strange that he