“He’d got his chest with him,” said Jeffreys.
“What sort of chest was it?” inquired Thorndyke.
“A small chest, painted green, with rope beckets.”
“Was it corded?”
“It had a single cord round, to hold the lid down.”
“Where was it stowed?”
“In the stern-sheets, sir.”
“How far off was the boat when you last saw it?”
“About half-a-mile.”
“Half-a-mile!” exclaimed the captain. “Why, how the deuce could you see that chest half-a-mile away?”