“With pleasure, Judge,” was the reply.
A little later the hearing was brought to a close, and Mr. Norton and Yates were led away. The police authorities remained in Bayport to await the return of those who had gone in search of Avery. Ford and I went down to the dock and hired a man to take us over to the Bend.
“I would like to know just how much this Carney had to do with the affair,” I said as we were crossing.
“Not much, I guess,” returned Ford. “He is an awfully ignorant fellow, and merely did what was told him in the shape of sailing the men where they wanted to go.”
“I am inclined to think that way, Dan. But you can’t always tell about these matters. I trust that they will catch Avery and get back the Catch Me,” I continued. “I wouldn’t have that boat injured for a good deal.”
“No; she is too fine a craft for that.”
At the Bend, Ford and I separated; and I hastened along the road to the mill to assure myself that nothing had occurred during my absence.
As I hurried on, I thought over the way Mr. Norton had acted since he had come to the Bend, and I could not believe but that Mr. Markham was right, and that he was not my uncle at all.
This thought gave me much satisfaction, but there was a great deal in it to worry me.
If Mr. Norton was an impostor, what of the letter he had written to me concerning my father’s death? Had my parent met his end in the manner described, or was it possible that my dear father was alive?