es. I--er--I had a headache, and I got a sudden spell of
blindness. I--er--I wanted to put the wheel over, but before I could
get straightened out the damage was done."

"I don't believe a word of that!" exclaimed Captain Turton. "He is a
rascal!"

"No! no! I was confused--I swear it!" groaned the mate. All the
remaining courage was oozing out of him. "I did my best to clear your
vessel, but I simply couldn't do it."

Captain Carter turned to one of his hands.

"Did he act confused, so far as you know?" he questioned.

"I don't know about that," answered the man. "He sure didn't steer the
boat right."

"I sometimes get those dizzy spells," said Bumstead. "They come on me
without warning. When they do come I don't know what I am doing for
the minute."

"You should have told me of this before," said Captain Carter.

"I--er--I was afraid I'd lose my job if I did. But I was confused, I
swear I was. Otherwise, I should never have run into that other boat."

They had to let it go at that, since there was no direct proof of any
intentional desire to smash into the _Mermaid_, and the charge was too
grave to take any chances on. But it was satisfactorily proved that
the mate did give the wrong signals, and that Nat was not to blame.

"Now that is over, we have another matter against you," went on Mr.
Weatherby. "I presume you know what it is, Bumstead."

"Yes," said the other in a low voice.

"Nat, go ashore and call an officer," said the pilot.

"Don't do that!" begged the mate. "I'll confess everything, and I'll
pay the money back with interest."

"Then you admit that you kept the fifteen hundred dollars you were to
deliver to Mr. Morton's son?"

"Yes. It was a great temptation, after I cashed the lumber
certificates. I needed the money badly, and I kept it. I meant to pay
it back, but I--I couldn't."

"And will you pay back the money on the note?"

"Every penny, with interest, if you don't have me arrested."

"What do you say, Nat?" asked Mr. Weatherby.

"I have no desire to see him arrested, though I think he tried to
injure me in other ways than by keeping this money from me. But I
forgive him," answered the boy.

"I think that is the best way," went on the pilot. "You have been
punished almost enough, Bumstead. I hope it will be a lesson to you."

"It will. Mr. Morton was kind to me, and I treated his son very wrong.
I'm--I'm sorry," and the mate turned his face away, so they would not
see him we