CHAPTER XVI
JUST TOO LATE
Such was their surprise over this announcement on the part of Mr. Clayton, that neither Mr. Weatherby nor Nat knew, for a moment, what to say.
"Are you sure Bumstead had Mr. Morton's share?" asked the pilot.
"Of course. He took charge of everything that was found in poor Jim's pockets. There was a little money, and some other papers. One, I recall, was a promissory note for about four hundred dollars, for money Jim had loaned to Bumstead. I remember there was some question about letting him take that, but he said he would pay the money due on it to Jim's heirs, and we let him have the whole business."
"What sort of a looking man was this Bumstead?" asked Mr. Weatherby, while he and Nat waited anxiously for the answer.
Mr. Clayton accurately described the mate of the Jessie Drew.
"It's the same man," murmured the pilot. "There can be no mistake about that."
"Why, do you know him?" asked Mr. Clayton.
"I have every reason to believe that he is mate of the freight steamer Nat and I have just left," was the reply.