With the landing of the two schooners from the fleet the women-folk were soon apprised of Nat’s action, and, had it not been for Elsa’s sensational disclosures in the little jail that made him the sudden occupant of a cell, there is no question but what 295 the women of Marblehead would have been equaled by the women of Freekirk Head; and Skipper Ireson would not have ridden down history alone in tarry glory.
But now, since Code was free, the whole town exulted, and there was a steady procession to the jail to look in upon the first real criminal the village had mustered in years.
Code, after checking the scale-tally all morning as his stalwart men swung the baskets of salted fish out of the hold, went along the road to Squire Hardy’s house after dinner and interviewed that worthy man.
“You’ve got him where you want him,” said the squire, “but you can’t get much except damages.”
“I don’t want even damages,” said Code. “I want him to take all his things and go away from here and never come back. Since he didn’t do any real damage to anybody I don’t care what becomes of him so long as he leaves here.”
“Well, all you must do is to withdraw your charges against him––they were put in your name so that Mrs. Mallaby’s would not have to appear.”
“But even if I do, won’t the State take it up. You know a murder case––”
“Yes, my boy, but this is no murder case now. On the face of it Nat did not set out to murder his father; he did not set out really to sink your 296 schooner––merely to disable it; the proof is indisputable and self-evident by his own confession and letter.
“Well, now, in a private racing agreement between gentlemen, if both vessels are registered and rated seaworthy, nothing that happens to one can be laid to the other unless, as in the present case, one deliberately damages the other. The principal punishment is a moral one administered by the former friends of the dishonest man, but the victim can collect money damages. Naturally the insurance company will change its charge so as to accuse Nat instead of you.
“They have a proven case against him already, and he will have to pay them nearly all they gave you––so that, in the end, he really pays you for the damage he did that day. Then, I understand, he is going to pay an amount to the family of each man who lost his life in the May, on condition that they will never sue him.”