"It makes a vast difference to us which," remarked Judd, with his favorite whistle. "How are we going to find out which party it was?"
"By using a little reason, first of all things," said Budd, with a smile. "There are some things that make it improbable that it was Bagsley and his companions. To have taken the boats they must have been prowling around here before last night, and that isn't likely, for with our sharp lookout we would have discovered some trace of them. Again, if it were him and his crew, they must have discovered that you were my only companion here, and they would have done something more serious than simply to take the boats. I don't say that these are positive proofs that they are not the ones who have taken the boats, but they make it look at least improbable. Then, again, if it were those fellows, they have carried out 'the little job' they talked of, and used the boats as a means of escape. If we don't hear within a few hours of some burglary near at hand, I shall feel conclusively that they are not guilty of this act."
"You think, then, that Benton has done it?" inquired Judd. "What could have been his object?"
"Just this," replied his partner, earnestly: "He left the house angry that he had been baffled in his purpose. Coming down by the wharf, here, he thought of the boats, and has taken them, either to hold them until I pay him the thirty dollars he has asked for, or by shutting us on the island and hindering our work he hopes to find a partial revenge for his disappointment."
"But don't he know it was a theft?" asked Judd, hotly.
"He probably don't call it so, and may not really mean to keep the boats; but the law will put that interpretation upon his act, and that gives us a great opportunity."
"What do you mean?" asked Judd, a little mystified.
"To have him arrested, and, even if we do not push the matter to the end, frighten him so thoroughly he will let us alone after this;" and Budd went on to explain that this had been Mr. Wright's way of dealing with the man.
"But before we can do this we will have to get ashore, and then our fish must be at the depot before six o'clock," said Judd, dryly.
"I know it," assented his comrade, "and we must stop this talk and go ashore. Once on shore, you must go to the village and get Ben Taylor's boat for the day and come back here. Meanwhile I will go down along the shore, and see if Mr. Benton has taken the boats down to that little cove adjacent to his farm. I'll try and be back at 'The Hummocks,' so you can pick me up as you come down with the boat. It is about four o'clock, now, and by five we must be back here; then, by stirring lively, we can get the fish packed and down to the depot in time for the train."