The next port they entered was Port Albany in Western Australia, from whence they steamed direct to Melbourne. Here Wright and Walker offered the steamer for sale, but received no offers. While in Melbourne, several circumstances made the Customs officers and the Harbour Police suspect that there was something wrong about the vessel. It was observed that the fires were always banked so that steam could be got up at the shortest notice. Captain Wright never left the steamer, and none of the crew (except Walker, the purser) were ever allowed “shore leave.” The Customs authorities instructed one of their officers to make a special investigation of the matter, and he reported that there was no steamer of the tonnage given registered at Lloyd’s in the name of INDIA, but that the particulars of tonnage and dimensions corresponded with the register of the missing steamer FERRET. [Illustration: The Arrest.] Noting all these suspicious circumstances the Customs authorities determined on prompt action. Requisitioning two crews of the Water Police, as it was feared there might be violent opposition on the part of the steamer’s crew, the Commissioner of Customs, on the 27th April, seized the vessel. Fortunately their anticipations as to resistance were not realised, the crew surrendering without opposition. Although the authorities had been extremely cautious in their enquiries, it is evident that the conspirators became aware of what was being done, for when the steamer was seized, Smith, “Mrs. Smith,” and Captain Wright had fled. The previous day Smith and Mrs. Smith removed from their cabin a number of articles, and amongst them two heavy iron-bound boxes which were never traced. Smith succeeded in getting away from Melbourne to a distant township, but was arrested. Mrs. Smith, who had disappeared for a time, when she heard of his arrest reappeared and visited him in prison. The object of her visit may be surmised from the fact that shortly after her visit Smith tried to escape by filing through one of the bars of his prison window. Captain Wright had found a retreat in a Melbourne sailors’ lodging-house, but having got drunk and quarrelled with his landlady, he was thrown out, and arrested for being drunk and disorderly. When the charge was being booked at the police station, he was recognised as the missing master of the steamer, for whom the police were searching.