Captain Patterdale examined them, and compared them with the two in his possession. They looked like the bills he had deposited in the tin box, when Hasbrook paid him the thirteen hundred and fifty dollars and interest. Twelve of the bills which made up this sum were fifties, nearly new; the balance was in hundreds, and smaller notes, older, more discolored, and worn. "Laud Cavendish paid you three hundred and fifty dollars, then?" continued the nabob. "Yes, sir; just that. But what is there wrong about it?" asked Donald, trembling with emotion, when he realized what a scrape he had got into. "Following your example, Don John, I shall for the present decline to answer," replied the captain. "If you don't know--" "I don't!" protested Donald, earnestly. "If you don't know, I thank God; and I congratulate you that you don't know." "I haven't the least idea." "Of course, if you don't wish to answer any question I may ask, you can decline to answer, as I do, Don John." "I am entirely willing to answer any and every question that concerns me." "As you please; but you can't be called upon to say anything that will criminate yourself." "Criminate myself, sir!" exclaimed Donald, aghast. "I haven't done anything wrong." "I don't say that you have, Don John; more than that, I don't believe you have; but if you answer any question of mine, you must do it of your own free will and accord." "I will, sir." "For what did Laud Cavendish pay you three hundred and fifty dollars?" "For the Juno," replied Donald, promptly. "I did not know he owned the Juno." "He said he did to-day; at least, he said he was going to change her name," added Nellie. "The fact that I did not know it doesn't prove that it was not so. You sold the Juno to Laud, did you, Don John?" "I did, sir." "Did you own the Juno?" "Yes, sir." "Did you buy her of Captain Shivernock?" "No, sir; I did not buy her; he made me a present of her." "A present!" "Yes, sir; he got disgusted with her, and gave her to me. I could not afford to keep her, and sold her to Laud Cavendish." "Gave her to you! That's very strange." "But Captain Shivernock is a very strange man." "None will dispute that," replied Captain Patterdale, with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders. "That man throws away his property with utter recklessness; and I should not be surprised if he ended his life in the almshouse. I will not ask any explanation of the conduct of Captain Shivernock. Laud Cavendish is not a man of means. Did he tell you, Donald, where he got his money to buy a boat worth three hundred and fifty dollars?" "He did, sir, and explained the matter so that I was satisfied; for I would not sell him the Juno till he convinced me that there was no hitch about the money." "Well, where did he get it?" "I don't feel at liberty to tell, sir; for he told me it was a great secret, which did not affect him, but another person. I inquired into the matter myself, and was satisfied it was all right."