Lawry was so positive that the pocketbook was still in the ferry-boat, or on the shore, that he renewed the search, and carefully scrutinized every foot of ground between the house and the landing-place, but with no better success than before. By this time the ferry-boat, which had been favored by a good wind during the last half-hour, returned. "What do you suppose became of that pocketbook, father?" asked Lawry, as he stepped into the boat. "I don't know. I don't believe he lost any pocketbook," replied John Wilford. "He says he did, and I saw it myself." "Perhaps you did, but I don't believe there was any six thousand dollars in it. If there had been, he wouldn't have thrown it about as he did." "He says there was six thousand dollars in the pocketbook." "I don't believe it. It's a likely story that a man would throw down his coat, with all that money in the pocket, on the drop. In my opinion it's some trick to cheat his creditors out of their just due." "It don't seem possible." "That's the truth, you may depend upon it. That's the way men make money." Lawry was by no means satisfied with this explanation. He went into the boat, and carefully searched every part of it. His father watched him with considerable interest, declaring that it was useless to look for what had not been lost. "You had better go up and see Mr. Sherwood now," said Mr. Wilford. "I have been up, and he was not at home." "You better go again, then." "He has gone to Port Henry after the new steamer." "Has he got a pilot?" "Not that I know of." "He can't get one at Port Henry," said the ferryman. "I suppose he is going to pilot her himself." "He will pilot her on the rocks, then. He don't know anything about Lake Champlain. Why don't you row up the lake till you meet the boat?" "I was thinking of doing so, but I can't keep this money out of my mind." "Why need you trouble yourself about that?" demanded the father impatiently. "It was lost in your boat, and I am very anxious that it should be found. I'm sure Mr. Randall thinks you've got it." "Well, he searched me, and found out that I hadn't got it--didn't he?" added Mr. Wilford, with a sickly smile. "I don't like to have you suspected of such a thing, and for that reason I want to find the money." "You can't find it, and I tell you he hasn't lost any money. He's going to cheat the bank or his creditors out of six thousand dollars." "I don't believe he would do such a thing as that." "We have looked everywhere for the money, and it can't be found. It's no use to bother any more about the matter. It's gone, and that's the end of it--if he lost it at all. You have looked all over the ferry-boat, and it isn't there. If it had been floating in the lake, you couldn't help seeing it. Now, you better take your boat and row up the lake till you meet the steamer." "I'm going pretty soon."