Both his hearers had listened eagerly to what Captain Gerard had to say. Then they nodded to each other, after mutually questioning the advisability of trusting this stranger, who might, after all, be a friend of Captain Cochrane, and might have come to pump them in order to put the villain on his guard. But, somehow, they were both inclined to believe what had just been told them, and renewed hope coursed through their veins at the prospect of making important discoveries after all. “I believe what you say,” remarked the Rev. Mr. Bootle, after a short pause; “and after you have heard all there is to say on our side, you will, I am sure, be even more ready than at present to help us.” Then followed a recapitulation of all the details already familiar to the reader, and it was as Mr. Bootle had surmised. Captain Gerard became greatly excited, and vowed that he would do all he could in the cause of justice, even if it became imperative to work openly, and thus lose the favour of his employers, who were Cochrane’s relations. “And you say that Riddell’s brother sailed as steward in the ‘Merry Maid’ last voyage? Depend upon it, he must have betrayed his identity in some way or other. And I will tell you why I think so. There has been some whispering aboard the ship about the late steward’s disappearance. If this steward was the man you say, his disappearance is no longer mysterious. He was murdered. And, what’s more, I will try to prove it.” CHAPTER XII. BAITING THE TRAP.