Captain,” the lad presently continued. “We understand you’ll be loaded in a few days and will sail for New York direct. 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.