That was why he had been decoyed aboard, and made prisoner--to keep him silent; to get him securely out of the way.

Yet this knowledge revealed nothing as to what their real purpose was.
What did they intend doing with him now that he was in their hands?
Joe had declared his fate would be left with Hobart.

Then it must be that they had a rendezvous arranged somewhere with that arch-conspirator, some hidden spot along the lake shore where they were to meet shortly, and divide the spoils, or make further plans.

Hobart unquestionably was the leader of the gang; but who was the woman?
She had evidently been in Mike's Place the night before, and had a glimpse of his face.

She must have left with that party in the automobile, yet she surely was not the one who had dropped that note begging the police to search this vessel.
What then had become of the other?
If she was being held prisoner, it was not at all probable she had been left somewhere ashore; apparently she had reason to know where she was being taken--to the _Seminole_; otherwise she would never have written as she did.