"Exactly so," added the custom-house detective; "she was sold, and your uncle or father bought her."
"Who told you all that?" asked Ben; and he did not seem to know whether or not to admit the truth of the statement.
The detective whistled and looked about him as though he did not care whether Captain Chinks bought her or not.
"Your uncle bought her dog cheap, too. I think Captain Chinks is a smart man," added Mr. Hines.
"He's some," grinned Ben.
"But you and he drank a little too much of that liquor."
"What liquor? I don't drink liquor."
"You might as well own up. Captain Chinks and you were a little boozy that day."