ent for her, which he wished me to change
for him, and I gave him smaller bills for it."

"Do you know the boat he sold?" asked Mr. Simonton.

"I never saw her, that I am aware of."

Squire Norwood ordered Mrs. Taylor to be discharged; Squire Gilfilian
suggested that Bobtail was the purchaser of the yacht, but it was proved
that he had not been absent from Camden even an hour before the time
when Colonel Montague obtained the bill, and he was also discharged.
When the examination was finished, Captain Chinks quietly stole out of
the office, evidently dissatisfied with the result. Little Bobtail was
warmly congratulated by all his friends, old and new, on the issue, and
he was hastening away, in order to take out his party in the Skylark,
when Mr. Hines stopped him.

CHAPTER XV.

A TRIP TO BAR HARBOR.

"Are you engaged to-day, Bobtail?" asked Mr. Hines, who was accompanied
by Mr. Brooks, the deputy sheriff.

"Not exactly, sir. Two gentlemen at the Bay View wished me to take them
out in the Skylark, but I told them I didn't think I could."

"If you are not engaged, I want you and your boat for two days," added
the custom-house official.

"Another party wanted me to-morrow; but of course I couldn't say
anything when I expected to be sent to the state prison by this time."

"I must have the boat for a couple of days, Bobtail. I won't say where
we are bound, and you need not mention that I am going with you,"
continued Mr. Hines, as he discovered Squire Gilfilian and Captain
Chinks talking together on the sidewalk. "You shall be paid for the use
of the boat at your usual rate, and I shall be ready in about an hour.
Mr. Brooks will go with us."

Little Bobtail wondered what was going to be done now, as Mr. Hines
sheered off and hastened to the hotel; but he had no time to consider
before Squire Gilfilian called him. He was not quite willing to believe
that the distinguished lawyer wished to convict him of a crime, but he
thought he was very zealous in his work.

"Bobtail, I am not quite satisfied about this business," said the
squire.

"I am, sir," replied the young skipper.

"I suppose so," added the lawyer, with a smile. "You ought to be. There
seems to be some connection between the boat you say you picked up and
the bill which was stolen from my letter."

"I don't know anything about that," said Bobtail.

"Do you mean to say that you picked that boat up?" asked Captain Chinks,
sharply.

"I d