"Who is telling the truth here?" asked the puzzled captain.
"I am!" declared Sam quickly.
"You are not!" cried Nat. "I never owned that box."
"I found it in your pocket," declared the commander.
"Because he put it there."
"I have already said I don't take any stock in that story. What object would he have in doing that?"
"I don't know, but he did it."
"I'm sure my nephew would not do such a thing," said the mate. "I know Nat smokes, for I have seen him smoking about the dock when we had occasion to tie up there."
"I used to," admitted our hero, "but I gave it up. If you will call Mr. Dunn," went on Nat desperately, "I think he could give some evidence."
"What kind?" asked the captain sneeringly. "Did you make up some for him?"