As there was, apparently, no other case on the calendar that morning, Mr. Wingate and the others were immediately given an opportunity to make their respective statements. The proceedings were of an informal nature. The justice listened attentively to all that was said, and nodded his head approvingly when Douglass Brown signified his willingness to withdraw the charge.
"In a matter of this sort," said the justice, "my duty is to decide whether the case is serious enough to warrant the accused being sent back to the local court for trial. It is clear that these boys did not act with the deliberate intent of doing harm. I will not hold on this charge. But I hope this will prove a warning to be more careful in future. A motor boat is a dangerous thing, unless handled with considerable judgment."
Mr. Wingate bowed. "If I may take the liberty," he said, "there is another matter which I would like to call your attention to. Chief," he proceeded, turning to that official, who was sitting close by, "yesterday you practically charged my nephew with having had some connection with the blowing up of a motor boat."
"In our business," returned the officer, "we cannot always respect people's feelings. A complaint was made, and I soon discovered that the young man, to say the least, has acted in such a manner as to lay himself open to suspicion."
"Nat is a good-hearted boy," went on Mr. Wingate; "he feels very badly over this matter, and neither of us is disposed to leave town until he is absolved from all suspicion."
"There are no charges against him," said the chief. "My questions were necessarily abrupt, and, happily, served to convince me of his innocence."
"I trust you may soon discover the author of that piece of work. It was certainly a most serious affair."
"It was. And, as yet, there is not a clue."
After a few minutes' further conversation, the party left the station.
"Do you mean to say that one of the motor boats was blown up?" questioned Douglass Brown, in surprise.