e clue to the
conspiracy for running off the Islander.

"Cornwood and the young fellow took a seat on a bench near the
landing-place, and talked for a full hour. Before they got through I
had a sight of this steamer coming up by the West Sambo. I passed quite
near them, on my way up the hill to the lighthouse, to see if I could
make out your steamer. As I did so, I heard Cornwood call the other
fellow Nick."

"Nick!" I exclaimed, looking at Washburn.

"That explains it all," added the mate.

"What does it explain?" asked the pilot, who seemed to be quite as much
interested in the case as Washburn and myself were.

"It explains another story I have not told, and which I did not suppose
had anything to do with this matter of the running off of the
Islander."

I related the affair of the robbery of the messenger of the bank,
giving all the details of the case, including the unexplained
disappearance of Nick Boomsby. The case looked as plain as day to
Washburn and myself. Nick had taken possession of the package of money,
and concealed it somewhere under the counter; and doubtless there were
holes and corners enough there where it could be put without its being
seen by his father. He wanted to get out of Jacksonville as soon as
possible after the robbery. He had applied to me, with his pathetic
story about being compelled to sell whiskey, and wanted to be taken as
a passenger in the Sylvania.

"Nick had the card written by Colonel Shepard, which he delivered the
night before we sailed," said Washburn.

"I should like to know what was written on that card," I added.

"Probably it was nothing more than an intimation from the colonel that
he should be ready to sail the next morning. He had not room enough on
a card to go into the particulars," answered Washburn. "You saw him
write the card, Alick."

"There was not more than a line or two on it, for it was done in half a
minute, signature and all."

"Captain Blastblow had steam up in the morning, as directed," continued
Washburn. "Nick observed the writing closely, and wrote a letter such
as he wanted for use the next morning. Captain Blastblow is not to
blame, unless it is for letting Nick deceive him."

The case looked plain enough now.

CHAPTER XVI.

ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO.

We had arrived at only a partial solution of the mystery, though we had
done enough to relieve Captain Blastblow from any evil intentions in
the premises. What Cornwood's