Judge Hamblin walked to the Bay View House, after the close of the proceedings, and Little Bobtail went with him. The bewildered legal gentleman questioned the boy closely, but his replies were always square and prompt. He knew nothing whatever about the letter after he left it on the desk in the office.
"Are you going to see Colonel Montague?" whispered Mrs. Taylor, who had followed her son to the hotel.
"I should like to tell him about the case, but I don't see that he can do anything for us. These folks have done everything," replied Bobtail, gloomily.
"You said you were going, but I don't ask you to go."
"Two gentlemen here want the boat. They said they wished for a sail, and didn't care about fishing. If they had just as lief go to Belfast as anywhere else, I'll run up there. It's a tip-top breeze to go and come."
"Do as you think best, but don't tell him I sent you," added Mrs. Taylor, as she walked towards home.
Bobtail thought she was over sensitive about calling upon her old employer, but was willing to humor her, and promised to tell Colonel Montague, if he saw him, that his mother had not sent him.
"Now, where's Captain Bobtail?" shouted a gentleman, coming out of the hotel.
"Here I am, sir."
"You were to take us out to sail if you got out of that scrape, my boy."