"I am not at all convinced of either one or the other," answered Captain Tracy, bluntly. "She was, or, I may venture to say, she is, as stout-built a ship ever floated, and I hold to the opinion that she would not have foundered while any other craft could keep above water. I hear, indeed, that two or three vessels which were caught in that same hurricane, though severely damaged, got at last safely into port. Mr Ferris wrote word, as you are aware, sir, that, after a thorough examination of the coast, no signs were discovered of her having been driven on shore, as all the vessels wrecked were identified and she was not among them. If she had been captured by the enemy, her master, Owen Massey, would have found means to communicate with us and let us know that he and his people were prisoners. By a letter from my son, I hear that there are still some picarooning villains infesting those seas, but they generally attack smaller fry than the _Ouzel Galley_. She was, as you are aware, well armed and well manned, and I can answer for it that Owen Massey would not have been taken by surprise, and would have beaten off in a fair fight any such craft, as he would any privateer of equal or, I may venture to say, of considerably superior force. His orders were to avoid fighting if he could do so with due regard to his safety-- and I never knew him disobey orders from the time he first came to sea with me." "Then, from what you say, Captain Tracy, your opinion is opposed to the interests of the firm," observed Mr Twigg, in a tone which showed that he was somewhat annoyed. "I express the opinion I hold, sir, and you never found Gerald Tracy say or do anything contrary to the interests of his employers," answered the captain firmly. "What you want to obtain, sir, is a rightful decision; and my belief and hope is that, if the insurance money were paid to you, you would have to refund it." "You only say what is true, captain, and you will pardon me for my remark," exclaimed the merchant, who was really an upright and generous-hearted man. "Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to see the _Ouzel Galley_ coming in under charge of her young master, with or without her cargo, however much thereby Ferris, Twigg, and Cash might be out of pocket. We'll now go and join our friends--and I beg you to believe that nothing you may say will alter the respect in which I hold you."