course of his investigations he had reached the department of
Ben, the boatman. He had carefully noted the appearance of the earth on
the banks of the river, and, quite fatigued by his unusual exertions,
he had seated himself in the boat house, where Ben was at work.

"Have you noticed any thing unusual about the boats, Ben?" asked the
old gentleman, after he had given the boatman a full exposition of his
views on somnambulism.

"Yes, sir; I noticed that the Greyhound was in a very dirty, slovenly
condition this morning. She wasn't so last night, when I looked at
her," replied the boatman.

"Ah, indeed!"

"The white seats in the standing room were covered with black mud, and
upon the edges there were stains of blood."

"Blood?" queried the philosopher.

"Yes, sir, blood; I have seen blood in my day, and I know what it looks
like."

"Can it be possible! Blood! What could have happened to the poor boy?"

"I don't know, sir."

"It is really awful. There is no knowing what the poor boy may have
suffered."

"He got back all right, for the boat was made fast, as usual, to her
moorings."

"The poor fellow must have been off somewhere in the boat, in his
sleep."

"May be he did, sir," answered Ben, respectfully.

"O, there can be no doubt about it. Isn't it a wonder that he wasn't
drowned?"

"Mr. Richard, knows how to handle a boat as well as any boy of his
years on the river."

"Yes, but you forget that he was asleep all the time."

"Perhaps he was, sir," said Ben, who did not seem to appreciate Mr.
Presby's philosophy.

"But he did not get all that mud and filth upon him while he was in the
boat."

"No, sir, of course he didn't; for I wash down the boat every time she
is used, and she was as neat as a new pin when I looked into her at
sundown last night."

"Then he must have landed somewhere," added the logical Mr. Presby.

"No doubt of that, sir."

"Where do you suppose he landed?"

"I haven't the least idea."

"Do you suppose you could find out by sailing up and down the river,
and examining the shore?"

"Well, sir, if you could tell which way the wind is by looking into the
ship's coppers, perhaps you might."

"I feel a very deep interest in the poor boy's welfare," added Mr.
Presby, who did not admire Ben's coldness on the subject; "and if you
could obtain any information that would throw light on this singular
affair, you might confer a great favor on the youth."

"I'll do any thing