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The crowd on the judges' yacht cheered the commodore as the Skylark rounded the Penobscot, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs at him with desperate enthusiasm. "I thought you said the Sea Foam was to beat the Skylark," said Nellie Patterdale. "I think she may do it yet," replied Donald. "And Sam's new boat must beat them both, Don John," laughed Maud Rodman. "Time!" called Sam.
She never got beyond the picture of him when, as plain John Patterdale, having put up the shutters and locked the door of the shop, he would come through into their little living-room behind for his supper. First he would kiss her, and then taking off his best coat, he would put on the old frayed one that always hung in readiness behind the door.
Somehow the case looked different now from what it had before. Laud had told where he got his money, and given a good reason, as it seemed to him at the time, for concealment; but why the strange man desired secrecy he was utterly unable to imagine. He almost wished he had told Captain Patterdale all about his meeting with Captain Shivernock on Long Island, and asked his advice.
"She said you were an impudent puppy, and she was sorry I invited you." "Did she say that?" asked Laud, looking up to the cold, pale moon. "She did; and I was obliged to tell her that I didn't invite you." "Perhaps I have been a fool," mused the lover. "There's no doubt of it. Nellie Patterdale dislikes, and even despises you. I have heard her say as much, in so many words.
I know he did not. Now, Don John, we must go to Turtle Head to-night, and see about that box." "I am ready, sir." "I will go with you," added Captain Patterdale; "and we will take the Sea Foam." Donald was permitted to go home and comfort his mother with the assurance that he was entirely innocent of the crime with which he was charged; and great was the joy of his mother and sister.
Perhaps it was a singular coincidence that all three of the visitors had left their hats in that room; but then it was not proper for them to sit with their hats on in the presence of such a magnate as Captain Patterdale, and no decent man would stop for a hat when a person had fallen in a fit.
"Don't make a slavery of your holidays, Frank. What's the good of having a new gun if you're not to use it?" "It's not the new gun. I'm not such a child as that comes to. But, you see, Godfrey is here, and one ought to be civil to him. I'll tell you what I want you girls to do, Bessy. You must come and meet us on our way home. Come over in the boat and along the path to the Patterdale road.
Donald felt that he was in hot water, in spite of the assurance of Captain Patterdale that he believed him innocent of all wrong, and he was sorry that he had made any bargains, conditional or otherwise, with Captain Shivernock or Laud Cavendish. The nabob would not tell him what was wrong, and he could not determine whether Laud or some other person had stolen the money.
The marine glass was presented to Edward Patterdale, as the winner of the second prize, with some pleasant words, which did not in the least betray the personal discomfiture of the chairman. There was a further ceremony on the quarter-deck of the Penobscot, which was not in the programme, and which was unexpected to all except the officers of the club.
Beardsley dug till he came to a rock, and it was plain that no tin box was there. "But I am sure that Laud had been digging here, for I saw the print of his clam-digger," said Donald. "This hole had been dug before," added the sheriff. "Even Laud Cavendish would not be fool enough to bury the box in such an exposed place as this," suggested Captain Patterdale.
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