But if the meeting was unexpected for me, it was equally so for him, for after hailing me he stood still for a moment; and in that space of time I had a chance to recover.

“I say, what do you want here?” he repeated, seeing that I did not answer him.

“I was looking for a sloop that capsized on the lake a couple of days ago,” I returned.

“What kind of a sloop?”

I described the Catch Me as best I could.

“No such craft around this island,” said Carney, after I had finished.

“Are you sure?”

“Certain. I was all around the shore only this morning.”

I did not believe this statement, and I paused, undecided what to do next.