evee.

If the theory we had advanced, and supported by such evidence as we
had, was correct, the four thousand dollars the bank messenger had lost
were on board the Islander. If Nick had taken the package, he had not
left it behind him when he started out on his travels. We went down
into the after-cabin. The captain said Nick had occupied the large
state-room on the starboard side, while Cornwood had taken possession
of the corresponding one on the port side. We found enough of the
effects of each in his state-room to settle the question of his
occupancy of the room. Four thousand dollars was a large sum of money,
and we did not expect to find it lying around loosely in the room of
either.

Captain Blastblow volunteered to examine Cornwood's state-room, while I
rendered the same service in that of Nick Boomsby. I found a bundle
which contained the runaway's clothing. I searched it thoroughly, but
there was no package of any kind in it. I opened all the drawers and
lockers in the room with no better success. I tore the bed to pieces
and removed the berth sack. The latter was a hair mattress of the best
quality. I looked to see if it had been ripped open in any place, and
then felt of it in every part, but without discovering anything like a
foreign substance in it.

Under the berth, or rather bedstead, was a considerable space, where a
trunk or other package could be placed. I lighted the lamp in the
state-room, and took it from the gimbals, for it was dark under the
bed. I looked and felt in every part of the space, but I had no better
success. I examined every hole and corner in the state-room, but found
no such package as that for which I was looking.

"I find nothing that looks like money," I said to Colonel Shepard, who
was watching the operations with deep interest.

"Blastblow has no better luck in the other state-room. Do you conclude
from this fact that you have been mistaken?" inquired the owner of the
Islander.

"I do not; I feel morally sure that Nick took that money," I replied,
confidently.

"You may be mistaken, Captain Alick," added Colonel Shepard, with a
smile. "If he took the package we should be likely to find it in his
room."

"I grant that I expected to find it here; or a part of the money in
this room, and the rest of it in Cornwood's state-room," I added,
rather warmly. "There are other places where the package could have
been concealed."

"That is true; but Nick's room was the place