nkins," said the harbor master, "did you bring the mate back
with you? This case has been delayed long enough."

"No, sir, I didn't bring him."

"Why not?"

"Because, sir, his ship has just sailed, and he's gone with her."

"I'll commit him for contempt of court!" exclaimed the harbor master.
"Make out the papers at once," he added, turning to his clerk. "I will
now take up this case, however, and proceed as far as possible. Give
me the written accusation."

He looked over some papers, and, at a nod from him, Nat walked forward
and stood in front of the big table. Then the harbor master read the
complaint as made by Bumstead. It set out in a number of legal terms
and phrases, that Nat Morton had, in violation of the regulations,
piloted a vessel without having a license. The mate, it appeared, had
heard of Nat's feat early that morning while the two vessels were
docked, and had lost no time making his accusation, for mere spite.

"How do you plead to that?" asked the harbor master.

"I guess I did it," answered Nat.

"Perhaps you had better explain," suggested one of the other men
present. "We will mark you 'not guilty' until we have heard the case."

Thereupon, Nat told all the circumstances connected with the sudden
illness of Mr. Weatherby, the storm, the leak in the ship and the
necessity for keeping on. Captain Turton was called and verified all
that Nat said.

"Hum," remarked the harbor master. "There seems to be some
justification here. I will consult with my colleagues on this. We will
let you know our decision shortly. You may wait here."

He motioned to the men on either side of him, and they all retired to
a rear room.

"What do you suppose they'll do to me?" asked Nat.

"Nothing very serious, I think," replied the captain, for he had been
through such cases before, and he knew that harbor masters were
disposed to stretch a point wherever possible.

"And Bumstead has got away again," went on Nat. "He stayed just long
enough to file his complaint, and then skipped out. I wonder if he
knows I am after him?"

"I think not," remarked Captain Turton, who had been told the
circumstances of the lumber deal. "If he did he wouldn't venture to
stay in the same port with you long enough to make a charge against
you. Probably he wants to make all the trouble he can for you, in the
hope that you will give up this ship life, and go somewhere so that he
will not have to worry about you finding out about h