"Exactly; and that vessel was seized for smuggling by a cutter under my command." "Pardon me, sir, but I think you are mistaken," objected Phil, "for I am intimately acquainted with the Commander of the cutter in question, while you are a stranger to me." "I beg leave to say that I think I know what I am talking about," retorted the other, stiffly, "and I may as well inform you at once that I not only was, but am still, in command of the cutter that seized your smuggling craft some two weeks ago. I am here for the purpose of causing the arrest and detention of yourself and the mate of that vessel, both of whom will be wanted as witnesses for the government during the forth-coming proceedings to be instituted against Captain Duff." "And I, sir," replied Phil, hotly, "beg leave to say that you don't know any more of what you are talking about than I do. Although I have sailed with Captain Duff and know him well, I am not a smuggler, and never have been. Moreover, I can summon witnesses this very minute who will identify me and certify to my character." With this Phil stepped to the bell. "Go to number 20," said the youth to the bell-boy, "and ask the gentleman who is there to kindly step down here for a minute." "And you, boy," thundered the Commander, his face flushed with anger, "find the gentleman who came here with me, and inform him that I desire his presence." The Lieutenant was the first to arrive. "Is this your Philip Ryder?" demanded the Commander, at the same time pointing to the youth opposite. "No, sir, he is not," replied the Lieutenant, promptly. "Who is he, then?" asked the other. "Begging the gentleman's pardon, this is Mr. Philip Ryder, as I can swear," interrupted a fourth individual, who had just entered. "Hello, Carncross! You here? And you know this young man?" "Certainly I do, sir. I met his father, Mr. John Ryder--the famous mining expert, you know--at my father's house in San Francisco last winter, and came to call on him here as soon as I heard of his arrival in Tacoma. He and his son arrived on to-day's steamer from Alaska. He is also a friend of your friend Captain Matthews." "What! Not Israel Matthews of the _Phoca_? You don't say so! Mr. Ryder, allow me to shake hands with you, and to offer my humble apologies for this absurd mistake." At the end of an hour the revenue-officers were as puzzled as ever over the disappearance of the present owner of the famous Philip Ryder bag, and his companion; but suddenly Carncross exclaimed: "I think I know what became of them! I remember now seeing the two chaps who came in that canoe run down the wharf and board the Alaska steamer just as she was starting for Seattle, and I'll warrant you that's where they are at this minute. Tough-looking fellows they were, too."