"Tell him about—" insisted Captain Ed.
"Oh yes—Bill." The stranger paused and glanced at the form shrouded with canvas. "Well, Bill was Crosby's professional crook who did all his dirty work for him. You see, Crosby has done this sort of thing before—got up companies, failed, and usually ended by collecting full insurance after his establishment had burned up. This is his first marine venture. All his others were in business ashore. But we got inside information on his past record—and Bill's—that opened our eyes."
"Then Bill was workin' for him—and against me—all the time?"
"Using you for the goat, to lay the burning of the fleet on to you," said Mr. Clyde. "Bill got his just reward tonight."
"And how about the insurance?" Captain Bert's voice was husky.
"Not a cent will be paid. We saw the Mehitable set on fire from her foc'sle when the Mary sheered off from her. We saw the escape of the men who did it. Our next step will be to get the goods on Crosby himself."
"But the Widder Barnes—all her money is tied up in the Crosby Company," protested Captain Bert.
"Don't worry about her," exploded Captain Ed. "It's me who's stung—not her. I bought all her shares in the Crosby Company after I left you this afternoon."
"Godfrey!"