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Theriere had been greatly disgusted with the turn events had taken for he had deterhly re less than a bold resolve to call Blanco, Byrne, "Bony," and "Red" to his side the moment Simms and Ward revealed the true purpose of their ruse to those on board the Lotus, and with his henchainst his former companions

As he had explained it to Billy Byrne the idea was to per to believe that Theriere and his companions had been duped by Skipper Simms--that they had had no idea of the work that they were to be called upon to perform until the lastthey could to protect the passengers and crew of the Lotus

"And then," Theriere had concluded, "when they think we are a band of heroes, and the best friends they have on earth we'll just naturally be in a position to grab the whole lot of them, and collect ransoms on ten or fifteen instead of just one"

"Bully!" exclaiot some bean, mate"

As athe matter as far as he had intihtily s and had seen in the trend of events a possible opportunity of so deeply obligating her father and herself that when he paid court to her shevictied to risk nothing, and couldthat he had been compelled to concoct this other scheainst Simms and Ward; then they could throw the three into irons and all would be lovely; but now that fool Ward had upset the whole thing by hitting upon this asinine fire hoax as an excuse for boarding the Lotus in force, and had further da to Skipper Sinized as they were boarding the Lotus and bringing suspicion upon them all immediately

They all knew that a pleasure yacht like the Lotus ell supplied with ser there would be plenty of men aboard to repel assault, and, in all probability, with entire success