"May I put in a word?" asked Tom, who had been standing close by.

"Yes," a.s.sented Horace Dunstan.

"Now I know, and we all know," Halstead went on, "that Ted Dunstan has been illegally spirited away and that it is simply impossible for his father to produce him in court. It is no guess-work, for I have seen Ted Dunstan, alive, and with Mr. Dunstan's enemies. If you were to make the claim, Mr. Crane, and use me as a witness, would that help matters any in inducing the court to adjourn the matter? Could the court then legally postpone the bringing of the Dunstan heir into view?"

"I'm afraid not," replied the great lawyer thoughtfully. "In the first place, the court would have only Mr. Dunstan's word for it that he is really anxious to produce his son in court. There would be no evidence that could corroborate Mr. Dunstan's statement. As to your testimony, Captain Halstead, if it were admitted at all, it would work us the greatest harm, for you would be obliged to say, under oath, that Ted told you he was with those other people by his own choice as well as at his father's command."

Mr. Musgrave nodded. Horace Dunstan bowed his stricken head lower.

"I understand the force of what you say, Mr. Crane," Tom nodded.

"Hush! Here comes Judge Swan now," whispered the lawyer. "What can he be doing here?"

A portly, white-haired man, yet with a fresh, young-looking face, had just stepped onto the pier and came toward them. He was judge of the probate court over at Nantucket.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he greeted pleasantly. Then, by a nod, he drew Lawyer Crane toward him, though the judge spoke loudly enough for the rest to hear.

"Are you going to have a case to bring before me to-day, Mr. Crane?"

"Provided we can find young Theodore Dunstan in time, your honor,"

answered the lawyer. "Our search has been unceasing."

"I wish you the utmost measure of good fortune, then," replied Judge Swan. "Under the terms of the will, as I understand them, this is the last day of grace that you have. But remember, court will be open up to the minute of four this afternoon."

Mr. Crane thanked his honor. Every hearer present, however, realized that Judge Swan had answered, as far as his dignity and official position permitted, how any appeal for postponement must be answered from the bench. The motion would be denied.

The justice turned to stroll apart from the rest, but the lawyer kept at his side.

"Judge," he asked in an undertone, "since you know the whole of our painful predicament, can you offer me any suggestion?"

"The most I can say, because it is the most I am able to say," murmured the judge, "is that I sincerely trust that Mr. Dunstan and yourself will be able to produce young Theodore in court before four o'clock this afternoon."

They soon turned, strolling back to the group.

"I feel a good deal annoyed," said Judge Swan, presently. "I was in Boston yesterday. My friend, Mr. Percival, was to start over to Nantucket with me at six this morning, in order that I might open court at nine o'clock. Mr. Percival wired me yesterday that his launch had broken down, but the telegram must have reached Boston after I had gone to the train. So I must go over on the forenoon pa.s.senger steamer, I fear."

"If we were going back sooner," explained Mr. Crane, "my client would be most happy to give you a seat on his boat. But we feel that, if young Theodore Dunstan is found, it will be on the mainland. So we are waiting until the last moment."

"Yet, if heaven favors us," broke in Horace Dunstan, "we could take my son over on the regular forenoon pa.s.senger boat, and be in court this afternoon. The 'Meteor' could be back here soon after the pa.s.senger boat leaves. So, Judge, may I offer you the use of the 'Meteor?'"

"Do you mean that?" asked Judge Swan, looking at the owner in delight.

"Most a.s.suredly," replied Mr. Dunstan. "I shall be glad, judge, if you will make use of my boat."

"Then I shall accept with great pleasure," replied his honor. "I know how swift your boat is."

"Then, captain," said Mr. Dunstan, turning to Halstead, "you understand your instructions, which are to get Judge Swan in Nantucket before nine o'clock this morning."

"It's the only boat in these waters that could do it," Tom replied, with pardonable pride, as he sprang aboard.

"Come back, captain, as soon as you land his honor," was Mr. Dunstan's parting word. "If you pa.s.s the pa.s.senger steamer, watch for me at her rail. I may signal you."

Before she had left the pier three hundred yards behind, the nimble motor boat was going at better than twenty miles an hour. Gradually the speed was increased. Judge Swan stood on the bridge deck beside Tom.

"It is really exciting to travel on a boat like this," commented his honor, presently. "You must enjoy it, captain."

"I do sir, when the engine works all right, which it does usually,"

Halstead answered.

The sea as smooth as ever, and no hindering breeze blowing, the craft behaved splendidly, making within a notch of her best speed. In time they left Martha's Vineyard behind, and headed out toward the big, green island of Nantucket.

"The engine isn't likely to break down this morning, is she?" asked the judge, who had just returned from a smoke aft.

"I don't think so, sir. It would make a sad mix-up in your court work if we got stuck out here on the open sea, wouldn't it, sir?"

"I imagine it would annoy my clerk a good deal," replied Judge Swan, reflectively. "He would have to sit in court all day without me, and then, when four o'clock came, he would, in my absence, be obliged to declare court adjourned until nine o'clock to-morrow morning."

"And in that case there wouldn't be any legal session of the court to-day, would there, sir?"

"There couldn't be a legal session in my absence. However, we'll trust that your engine won't meet with any mishap," replied Judge Swan, smiling and turning away.

Tom Halstead's hands began to tremble as he guided the wheel. There was a queer look in his eyes; his head was whirling a bit.

Had Judge Swan purposely given him a hint? It was a staggering thought.

Halstead, when in doubt, was likely to think and act quickly.

"Come and relieve me at the wheel for a few moments, Jed," he called.

Then, in a twinkling, the young skipper was down in the engine room.

"Joe," he whispered, breathlessly, to his chum, "the judge just informed me that, if anything went wrong with the engine, and we couldn't make Nantucket before four o'clock, there would be no legal session of probate court."

"Did he mean that for a hint?" queried Joe, his look becoming keen.

"I'll leave that for you to figure out, chum."

"Where are we, now?" was Dawson's next question.

Halstead informed him.

"Say," muttered Joe, "I wish you'd go up on deck and stay there a while.

I want to attend to my work for a while."

Tom went back up on deck, lounging near Jed, at the wheel. It wasn't long before the speed slackened. Then, the boat slowed down to mere headway. Even this soon ceased.

"I'll try not to hinder you long," called up Joe, showing his face in the hatchway. "I think I can soon get the engine fixed."

"Use all the speed you can, Joe, but do it well, whatever has to be done," Tom answered. Then he made his way aft to report to Judge Swan that the engineer had said he hoped the motor would soon be in order again.

"Are there any books aboard?" his honor wanted to know.