“I distinctly remember seeing it, for the lamp was lighted and the glass flashed a blinding glare into my eyes. You see we raced in about the worst winter weather there was and the lamp had to be lighted very early.
“The log-book wasn’t there, and I found it somewhere or other later, but that hasn’t anything to do with the case. I never saw the mirror after that––in fact, never looked for it. I took for granted it had gone down with the May, along with all my other things, except the log-book, which I saved and use now aboard the Lass.”
“And you didn’t take it out or give it to anybody?”
“No. I am positive of that. I didn’t touch it after seeing it that once.”
“Then it is very plain, Code, that if Nat Burns came into possession of it he must have taken it himself. 230 He was very angry with you for winning, wasn’t he?”
“Terribly. For once I thought he might be dangerous and kept out of his way until the thing had worn off a little.”
“Just like him,” said Elsa in that tone of bitter hatred that Code had heard her use before when speaking of Burns. “He must have gone aboard the May and taken it, because you prized it so much. A fine revenge!”
“Yes, but we don’t do those things in Freekirk Head, Elsa. You know that. We don’t steal from one another’s trawl-lines, and we don’t prowl about other men’s schooners. I can’t understand his doing a thing like that.”
“Perhaps not, but if not, explain how he got it.”
“You’re right,” Code admitted after a moment’s thought; “that’s the only way.”