"By the way, Donald, did you see the green tin box when you were in my library this afternoon?" he asked, when all the topics relating to the yacht had been disposed of. "Yes, sir; I saw you take some money from it," replied Donald. "Then you remember the box?" "Yes, sir." "Did you notice it when you came out--I mean, when you left the house?" "I don't remember seeing it when I came out," answered Donald, wondering what these questions meant. "I want to get another box just like that one. Did you take particular notice of it?" "No, sir; I can't say I did." "You didn't stay any time in the library after you came down from Michael's room, did you?" "No, sir; I only went for my hat, and didn't stay there a minute." "And you didn't notice the tin box?" "No, sir; I didn't see it at all when I came out." "Then of course you didn't see any marks upon it," added the captain, with a smile. "If I didn't see the box, I shouldn't have been likely to see the marks," laughed Donald. "What marks were they, sir?" "It's of no consequence, if you didn't see them. The box was in the library--wasn't it?--when you went out." "I don't know whether it was or not. I only know that I don't remember noticing it," said Donald, who thought the captain's question was a very queer one, after those he had just answered. The nabob was no better satisfied with Donald's answers than he had been with those of Laud Cavendish, except that the former looked him full in the face when he spoke. He obtained no information, and went home to seek it at other sources. "I think I won't go out again, Donald," said Mr. Ramsay, when Captain Patterdale had left. "I don't feel very well, and you may go alone." "Do you feel very sick, father?" asked the son, in tones of sympathy. "No; but I think I will go into the house and take some medicine. You can run over to Turtle Head alone," added the boat-builder, as he walked towards the house. "Can't you go any how, Sam?" said Donald, turning to his friend. "No, I must go home now. I have to drive over to Searsport after my sister," replied Sam, as he left the yacht, and walked up the wharf. Donald hoisted the jib of the Sea Foam, shoved off her head, and laid her course, with the wind over the quarter, for Turtle Head--distant about seven miles. CHAPTER III THE YACHT CLUB AT TURTLE HEAD.