"I saw him just as it was growing dark."
"Where?"
"A gentleman and lady took the walk yesterday afternoon from Boothbay over the Indian Trail to Spruce Point, where I met them late in the afternoon. Then the water being very calm, I went round to Ocean Point at the end of Linekin Neck, where they went ashore for a half hour or so. I stayed in my boat waiting for them, when I happened to look south toward Ram Island, expecting the light to show pretty soon. While I was staring I caught sight of your boat, the Deerfoot, heading out to sea."
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken?" asked Chester. "Couldn't it have been some other boat that resembles her?"
"I might have thought so if I hadn't used my glasses—them that are lying on the seat alongside of you. When I took a good look through them, everything was as plain as the nose on your face."
"Did you notice the one at the wheel?"
"So plain there couldn't be any mistake about it. It was that redheaded Irish chap that you've been talking about."
"And he was alone?"
"If there was anyone with him he kept out of sight."
"Did you watch the Deerfoot after that?"