"There is some reason in that," said the colonel. "Everybody in Jacksonville knew that both yachts were bound to New Orleans. Nick may have suspected that he would be charged with the robbery. He is old enough to understand all about the telegraph, and he may have put the money where it was not likely to be found, or if found, might not appear to have any connection with him." Captain Blastblow had made as thorough a search in the port as I had in the starboard state-room, and had joined us in the cabin while we were talking about the matter. He seemed to fall in with our reasoning, and expressed his satisfaction that he had not been boarded by officers, who might have suspected him of being concerned in the robbery of the bank messenger. "Cornwood has been on board of the Islander three days now," I said. "Have you seen much of him, Captain Blastblow, during this time?" "Very little indeed. From the time he came on board Sunday, I think I hardly saw him at all until Monday afternoon. He was in close conversation with Mr. Boomsby most of the time, the steward said to me. The first night they sat up till after midnight; and Lonsdale says there was a good deal of strong talk between them," replied the captain. "Do you know what it was about?" I asked. "I haven't the least idea. I inquired how the passengers were getting on, and Lonsdale told me he thought they were in some kind of a quarrel." "You don't spend any of your time in the cabin, do you, Captain Blastblow?" asked the owner. "I haven't had time even to come into it on this trip, though I intend to go through it every day, to see that everything is in order. I have had all I could do the last week to look out for the vessel, with two heavy gales and plenty of fog," replied the captain. "I had to make a harbor at Matanzas Inlet, and again at Tavernier's, for I was afraid this little craft would roll her engine out of her." "We kept on through the whole of it Friday night," I added. "You were outside of the reef, and you could not make a harbor," retorted Captain Blastblow. "But I got to Key West two hours before you did." "You did not go to the assistance of a wrecked bark as I did, and land her ship's company in Key West," I replied. The captain of the Islander wanted to know about the wreck; and at another time I told him all about it. We were too much concerned in verifying our theory in relation to the robbery in Jacksonville to agree to any long digression. "Is the steward the only person who has been a constant visitor to the cabin?" I asked. "Gibbs, the waiter, did all the work in the cabin; and he must have seen more of the passengers than even the steward," replied the captain. "Where is Gibbs?" "Probably on deck, or asleep in some corner." "Perhaps we had better call the steward and waiter," suggested Colonel Shepard.