ahead to the dock where the freight steamer
was tied up. They could go aboard, and if Mr. Bumstead saw them he
would not become alarmed and escape, whereas, if he saw the pilot and
Nat returning he might take the alarm.

Accordingly, when they were part way to the dock, Nat and Mr.
Weatherby walked down a side street, while the others went on.

"I wonder if he'll put up a fight?" mused Nat, as they paced slowly up
and down, waiting.

"Very likely. He is a desperate man, and I haven't the slightest doubt
but what he pushed that bale on you in the hold."

"I think so myself," agreed Nat.

It seemed quite a long time that Mr. Clayton and the detective were
gone, and Nat grew impatient.

"Something must have happened," he said.

"I hope so," answered the pilot. "I hope they got him, and that he had
your money with him."

They resumed their pacing up and down. About ten minutes later they
saw Mr. Clayton and the officer coming toward them, unaccompanied.

"They didn't get him!" exclaimed Nat.

"Maybe he gave up the money."

"I hope he did. I shouldn't like to go to court over it."

"Well?" asked the pilot, as the two came nearer.

"We were just too late," answered Mr. Clayton dejectedly.

"Too late?"

"Yes, the vessel has sailed for Buffalo. We have been trying to find
another ship bound for the same port, that might get in ahead of the
freighter, but we couldn't. I guess Bumstead has escaped us for a
time, but you can follow him. His ship will tie up in Buffalo for a
week."

"But Nat and I have to go aboard the passenger steamer in a few days,"
said Mr. Weatherby. "We'll have to stay on Lake Huron for a month or
more, cruising about. I can't go to Buffalo, and I don't believe it
would be safe for Nat to go alone."

"I wish I could," said Mr. Clayton, "but I've got to ship for a trip
to Duluth and other ports to-morrow. Even if I didn't have to go, I
would have no right to make a complaint against the mate. It would
have to be done by Nat, as it's his money."

"That's right," said the detective. "The person whose property is
stolen has to make the complaint. But we might wire the Buffalo police
to hold the man until one of you can get there. The only trouble is
you'd have to swear out a warrant here, and as I understand it, there
is only a suspicion against Bumstead."

"We are practically sure he has Nat's money," replied the pilot,
"still, there may be some difficulty in causing his arrest, when he