“I?” stammered the young sailing master of the “Restless.” “Certainly not, sir!”
“Then who does?” demanded Oliver Dixon, shooting a suspicious look at the young captain.
As Tom Halstead glanced swiftly from one face to another, something of the awful meaning of the situation flashed over him.
“See here,” he muttered, hoarsely, “I hope none of you think I could do anything like this! I? Rob my own passengers? Why, it would settle my fate as a yacht commander all in an instant! No, no! You surely must all see that I simply couldn’t have done a thing like this!”
CHAPTER IV
“BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE”
“WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
“I wouldn’t believe that—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
“It would seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.