"You do not know what has become of the papers?"
"No, sir. We are advertising for them, but so far we have not received any information concerning them."
"But can't you get duplicates from the former owners of the ground?"
"No, sir. The former owners are all dead, and the property fell into my father's hands in a roundabout way. You see, when he got it the land was worth but very little, and no great care was taken of the papers in consequence."
Toglet nodded, as though to indicate he understood. Then, while Ralph was busy starting the sloop on another tack, Toglet leaned over and whispered to his companion:
"That's the bottom of it, Sam."
"I shouldn't wonder," returned Martin, in an equally low tone.
Ralph heard the whisper, but paid no attention to it, thinking the men were discussing something not meant for his ears. He turned over on the new tack, and once more the sloop went along on her course, throwing up the fine spray over the bow.
"We'll be able to get home faster than we are now sailing," remarked Ralph. "We'll have a good wind all the way."
"Unless it dies out," returned Martin, and there was just a trace of nervousness in his tone.