Van Cross, who had been enjoying a quiet cigar, looked down from the bridge, and, in a surly tone, asked what was wanted.
“Line up the whole crew and find out first who it was that went overboard,” growled Captain Lawton.
“I can tell you that,” put in Nick Carter, in his character of Sykes, the boatswain.
“Whoever he is, he got six hundred dollars out of my cabin!” roared the skipper. “I’ll skin him alive when I get my hands on him. Who is he?”
“The passenger you shut up for’ard for trying to steal the property of the passenger you call Mr. Miles,” replied Nick. “He has got out of the brig, and he is not on the ship.”
“What?” bellowed the wrathful skipper. “Do you mean to tell me that lubber has broken out? Who is he, anyhow? He says he is a business man, and he looks like it. Do you know anything about him?”
“I think I do,” replied the detective. “I believe he is an ex-convict named John Garrison Rayne.”
“John Garrison Rayne?” shouted Lawton. “I’ve heard of that fellow. He operates all over this continent.”
“And on others, too,” put in Chick.
“Come down to my cabin with me, Sykes, and help me go through my sea chest again. Bring your two men with you. Come on, Cross! I’ll rummage it from top to the very bottom.”