‘And that’s the last you saw of him? Or the others?’ ‘Yes,’ Tally hesitated. Then he added, ‘I heard ’em, though.’ ‘Heard them, eh? How’s that?’ ‘’Bout two o’clock, I reckon ’twas. I couldn’t get to sleep again after he’d waked me up, an’ I was lyin’ in the cabin when I heard the power-boat comin’ down the creek. I’d know that engine anywhere, Sheriff. One of them cylinders ain’t never spit just right. I heard it go by the end of the backwater yonder and keep on downstream.’ ‘About two o’clock, you say?’ ‘Nigh’s I could tell. Reckon I’d been lyin’ there awake more’n three hours. Sheriff, I needs a boat powerful. You goin’ to let me have my skiff back, ain’t you?’ ‘’Course I am. You can have it for no more’n you sold it for.’ ‘’Tain’t worth thirty-five dollars,’ said Tally indignantly. ‘’Tain’t worth more’n ten, I reckon.’ ‘Oh, yes, it is. Call it thirty and you can have it.’ Tally shook his head. ‘Twenty, Sheriff,’ he offered. ‘Not a cent less than thirty. Want it?’ ‘No! ’Tain’t worth it. I can buy Brodie’s punt for fifteen.’ ‘All right. Anything more you want to know from this man, Kinsey?’ ‘I don’t think so. I want to tell him, though, that I could cause his arrest for having counterfeit money in his possession, and that I’m likely to do it if he doesn’t stick right around here in case I need him to identify those men later. Get that, Moore?’ ‘I’ll be right here, sir,’ Tally assured him earnestly. ‘Now,’ said Sheriff Bowker, when the launch was once more making its way down the creek, ‘we’ll put you boys aboard your boat next. Casey, you know the short way to the Run from here?’ ‘Don’t believe I do, Henry.’ ‘Well, it’s first to your right. It’s a sharp turn, sort of hidden. I’ll watch for it.’ ‘Mr. Bowker,’ said Pud, ‘does that skiff belong to us?’ ‘Well, now, I don’t know.’ The sheriff rubbed his nose reflectively. ‘Maybe it does, Anson. Why?’ ‘I was just thinking that we’d rather have had that twenty dollars he offered,’ answered Pud. ‘Oh, that’s it? Well, now, look here, son. That boat’s worth thirty if it’s worth a cent. Tell you what you do. You take it back up to Millville and see can’t you sell it there.’ ‘I’d rather have the boat,’ declared Tim. ‘It’s a pretty good one, Pud. All it needs is calking and painting.’ ‘We-ell,’ agreed Pud doubtfully. ‘Maybe it will be kind of fun to have a rowboat handy.’ ‘Ain’ ’at the truth?’ observed Harmon solemnly. Pud and Tim exchanged glances. Here was a complication. It was plain that they would have to acquire Harmon’s interest, if he possessed any. Pud wondered if he did. Although at the start of the expedition, Harmon’s status had been that of a menial, Pud felt that he had since then attained to equality. Yes, beyond a doubt Harmon belonged, and, belonging, owned a third――well, anyway, a part of that skiff!