"Well, somebody was there, and took our boat," said Doctor Clay. "If I find out who was guilty of the trick I shall punish him severely." He knew that many of the boys would laugh behind his back, and he hated to be the butt of such a joke.
After being questioned for quarter of an hour the boys were told they could go, and returned to their dormitory. Hardly had they left the office when Siller, the boatman, came in.
"The boat you had is at the dock," he announced. "It was tied up around a corner, where I didn't see it before."
"That proves some boys from this school took it from the island," said the doctor. "Is the boat all right?"
"Yes, sir. I looked her over, and in the bottom I found this case."
As Siller spoke he handed over a small leather case, which was empty but smelt strongly of tobacco.
"A cigarette case!" cried the master of the school. "Could any pupil here have had that? They know that smoking is forbidden." He turned the case over in the light. "Here is a letter painted on the side. It is rather worn."
"It is an M," said Andrew Dale, after an examination. "Let me see, what pupils' names begin with M?" He mused for a moment. "Morrison, Morr, Merwell——"
"Morrison went home yesterday, to be gone a week. Merwell said the motor boat was not near the island, and I certainly did not hear it."