"I don't know. It seemed as if some one pushed it, but who could it be? What object would any one have in trying to hurt me?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. You must report this to Captain Marshall," said the purser. "He'll want to know all about it."
There was no need of going to the captain's cabin, however, for he came to find Nat, as soon as the excitement caused by the fire had subsided.
"Now tell me all about it," he said. "Every bit. Were you smoking down there?"
"No, sir," replied Nat indignantly.
He related all that had taken place, and the captain had every member of the crew questioned, as to whether or not they had been in the hold at the time. They all denied it.
"Maybe it was because the bale wasn't stowed away level," suggested Mr. Bumstead, with a queer look at Nat, as our hero, together with the purser and the pilot were in Captain Marshall's cabin, discussing the occurrence.
"That's possible," admitted Mr. Dunn. "But what made the noise?"
"Rats, probably," replied the mate. "There are some whoppers down in that hold."
"Would you say they were large enough to topple over that bale?" asked the pilot suddenly.