“I will, sir,” answered Jack; and in a plain, straightforward manner told how Pepper had come to him with the strange note, and how they had hurried down to the old boathouse. Then he related how they had seen the fire start up and found themselves locked in, and how they had gotten out and given the alarm.
“We saw those cigarette butts there once before, and also an empty liquor bottle,” he added. “But I do not remember that we saw any playing-cards.”
“Have you anything to add to this story?” asked the captain of Pepper.
“No, sir, excepting to say that Jack has told the exact truth, Captain Putnam. We had nothing to do with the fire and nothing to do with the cigarettes or drink.”
“What about the cigarettes, cards, and liquor that were found in your belongings?”
“If they were found there, they were put there by somebody who wanted to do us harm.”
“Most likely the same party who got Pepper to go to the boathouse with me,” added Jack.
“Have you any idea who that party can be?”
“Yes, sir, but I should not like to speak of that,” answered Jack, firmly.