Perhaps Mr. Rodman was not satisfied that the young man would succeed in the undertaking, but he had not the heart to discourage one who was so earnest. He determined to watch the progress of the work very closely, and if he discovered that the enterprise was not likely to be successful, he intended to stop it before much time or money had been wasted. Donald had fully detailed the means at his command for doing the job in a workman-like manner, and he was well known as an ingenious and skilful mechanic. Mr. Rodman had strong hopes that the young man would succeed in his undertaking. Donald walked toward the house of Captain Shivernock, congratulating himself on the happy issue of his interview with Mr. Rodman. As he passed the book and periodical store, he saw Lawrence Kennedy, a ship carpenter, who had formerly worked with Mr. Ramsay, standing at the door, reading the weekly paper just from the press. This man was out of work, and was talking of going to Bath to find employment. Donald had already thought of him as one of his hands, for Kennedy was a capital mechanic. "What's the news?" asked Donald, rather to open the way to what he had to say, than because he was interested in the latest intelligence. "How are you, Donald?" replied the ship carpenter. "There's a bit of news from Lincolnville, but I suppose you heard it; for all the town is talking about it." "I haven't heard it." "A man in Lincolnville was taken from his bed in the dead hour of the night, and beaten to a jelly." "Who was the man?" "His name was Hasbrook." "Hasbrook!" exclaimed Donald. "Do you know him, lad?" "I know of him; and he has the reputation of being anything but an honest man." "Then it's not much matter," laughed the ship carpenter. "But who beat him?" asked Donald. "No one knows who it was. Hasbrook couldn't make him out; but likely it's some one the rogue has cheated." "Hasbrook must have seen him," suggested Donald. "The ruffian was disguised with his head in a bit of a bag, or something of that sort, and he never spoke a word from first to last," added Kennedy, looking over the article in the paper.