"No, sir. Sure I hadn't no call tu go over tu t'Island last night. Now you comes tu mention it, sir, I did notice as 'ow some one 'ad a-meddled wi' my boat, the Pride o' Polkerwyck. Says I tu myself, 'Tis they young gen'lmen over up-along, wot come ashore last night."
"How did you know that one of your mates hadn't used her, Peter?" asked Mr Trematon.
"Sure, none o' they wud a-made fast the painter wi' a granny, sir."
"And none of my Scouts would have done so: that I feel sure," added the Scoutmaster with conviction. "No, Peter, it's not any of our lads. Some one, I believe, is in the habit of paying night visits to Seal Island."
"Better not let Roger Penwith, Sir Silas' bailiff, catch 'em," said the old fisherman with conviction. "All as goes tu Seal Island after sunset without permission be liable tu be taken up for poachin', sir."
Returning to the harbour Atherton and the Scoutmaster made a careful examination of the boat in question. The thwarts and bottom-boards were scratched and almost destitute of paint or varnish, but in addition to the innumerable traces of old Peter's iron-heeled boots, Atherton made the discovery that some one wearing indiarubber shoes had recently been in the boat.
"Size ten," he added, after measuring one of the footprints with his finger joint. "And seven bars across the soles."
"Pity we did not know of this before we left the Island, Atherton," said Mr Trematon. "However, we must keep a sharp look-out for a spoor up the road."
The two patrols formed up and began their two-mile march to the farm. The traces of the person wearing indiarubber shoes were at first fairly well defined. In spite of the large size the wearer had taken comparatively short steps, a circumstance that coincided with the discovery made in the Tea Caves. But half way up the hill the spoor broke away to the left. Here the short, sun-dried grass effectually baffled all farther traces.
The Scouts were, for the time being, baulked. There was nothing left but to continue their way to the farm.