"Meaning, I suppose, that you think I can account for it."
"Anybody who would tamper with boats would tamper with a cabin, we reckon," growled Mr. Grigsby.
"You seem bound to be personal," retorted the long-nosed man. "That little controversy on the Georgia came out in your favor, but you can't rile me. I want to let by-gones be by-gones. I'm a peaceable man. You've beat me, and I'm willing to say so. Who robbed your cabin? What'd you lose? Speak up."
"We lost some small papers, entrusted to this boy, here. I have witnesses to prove that they were in my possession, so they won't be of use to anybody else," informed Charley's father, "and the safest thing for the present holder to do is to return them."
"That's the captain's cabin. Tell the captain," urged the long-nosed man.
"No," growled Mr. Grigsby; "we thought we'd tell you."
"Meaning, I suppose, that I did it," returned the long-nosed man. "You're overshooting. You saw me ashore."
"Yes, we saw you," replied Mr. Grigsby.
"Meaning, I suppose," resumed the long-nosed man, "that if I didn't do it some of my friends did. You saw them ashore, too, didn't you?"
"Saw one of them, perhaps," admitted Mr. Adams.