A moment later the veteran appeared leading out the cashier. It seems that the defaulter had a slight cold in the head, and an unfortunate sneeze betrayed his presence to the cutter’s men. “I am glad to see you, sir,” said the officer. “I must trouble you to go on board of the cutter.” “I think you have made some mistake, for I have no business with the cutter,” replied Mr. Wallgood: but he was trembling with emotion; and, in fact, he was altogether too nervous a man to rob a bank, and then manage his own escape. “Are you a passenger in this ship, Mr. Wallgood?” asked the officer. “I am a passenger; but my name is not Wallgood,” answered the cashier. “Then I beg your pardon for calling you by a wrong name,” added Mr. Graves. “May I ask your name?” “My name is John Simpson.” “Excuse me, Mr. Simpson, for the mistake I made. But I shall be obliged to ask you to visit the cutter, and my boat is waiting for you,” continued the officer, in the blandest tones. “But I am not Mr. Wallgood, and you have mistaken the person you want,” persisted the cashier. “Not at all: my orders are to bring on board the cutter all the passengers except the captain’s wife,” replied Mr. Graves. “This lady declines to go, and I shall merely report her refusal to the captain.” “But what is your business with me?” asked the defaulter. “I have no business whatever with you. I only obey the orders of my captain; and I know nothing whatever in regard to the matter,” replied Mr. Graves. “You will oblige me by going into the boat which is at the accommodation ladder.” The cashier objected, but the officer was inflexible. Mr. Simpson had no business on board of the cutter: he was ill, and it was an exposure for him to leave the ship. “Why don’t you tell him up and down that you won’t go, as I did?” demanded Mrs. Wallgood. “Well, I won’t go, then!” exclaimed the cashier. “That is candid and straightforward,” replied the officer. “Here, Peterson, put this gentleman into the boat,” he added, turning to the quarter-master. Peterson seized him by the collar, and marched him out of the cabin. Mrs. Wallgood appealed to the captain to resist; but he was too prudent to meddle with a United States officer. In spite of the lady he was compelled to get into the boat, which pulled for the cutter. CHAPTER XXXI. A FULL CONFESSION. “Boat ahoy!” shouted Capt. Crogick, as the men began to pull for the cutter. “On board the ship!” replied Mr. Graves. “The lady has consented to go to the cutter,” added the captain. “She is too late now: if I find the captain of the cutter desires her presence, I will return for her; but I have the impression that she will not be needed.” “But she does not wish to be separated from her husband,” persisted Capt. Crogick.