"I am. I went to the captain's house before he returned that day, and both Sykes and his wife told me he had left home at four o'clock that morning, and this was after the pounding was done. Besides, the captain was over on Long Island when I saw him. If he had done the deed, he would have got home before daylight, for the wind was fresh and fair. Instead of that, he was over at Turtle Head when I first saw him. The Juno got aground with him near Seal Harbor, which made him so mad he would not keep her any longer. He was mad because she wasn't a centre-boarder. I suppose after we parted he went over to the Lincolnville or Northport Shore, and hid till after dark in Spruce Harbor, Saturday Cove, or some such place. At any rate, I was at his house in the evening, when he came home."
"The old fellow had been up to some trick, you may depend upon it," added Laud, sagely.
"I came to the conclusion that his desire to keep dark was only a whim, for he is the strangest man that ever walked the earth."
"That's so; but why should he give me such a pile if he hadn't been up to something?"
"And me another pile," added Donald. "We can talk this thing over between ourselves, but not a word to any other person."
"Certainly; I understand. I am paid for holding my tongue, and I intend to do so honorably."
"So do I, until I learn that there is something wrong."
"You have told me some things I did not know before, Don John," suggested Laud.
"You knew that the captain was down by Long Island."
"Yes, but I didn't know he was at Turtle Head; and I am satisfied now that he is the man that shook up Hasbrook that night," continued Laud, in meditative mood.