"I understood that he was the leader of the party carrying off the young fisherman, but he assured me that he knew nothing of the matter, and was several miles distant when it occurred." "I almost wish that he had been of the party if such is the case, for if he remains here, I fear that our May will be exposed to danger," said Miss Jane. "Surely no one would venture to injure a young lady living with you," observed Headland. Miss Jane then told him of the annoyance to which May had been subjected from Gaffin's son. Headland naturally felt indignant. "Strong measures must be taken to get this man Gaffin and his son out of the way," he remarked. "As soon as Harry returns we will see what can be done. In the meantime I will ride down to the cottage and ascertain that your young friend has reached it in safety, and will wait to escort her back." He soon caught sight of her at about half-way to Adam's cottage. At the same moment a person resembling the man who had spoken to him on the previous night appeared and seemed about to address May, who quickened her pace, when catching sight of Headland he apparently thought better of it and advanced to meet him. "Good-day, Captain Headland," said the man, looking up at him with cool assurance. "Your friend, Mr Harry Castleton, will have a long chase after the lugger, a wild goose chase I suspect it will prove. I have been enquiring into the truth of the story you heard, and I find that it was spread by a wretched old mad woman whom the people about here take to be a witch. The sooner she is ducked in the sea, and proved to be an ordinary mortal who has lost her senses, the better. It is disagreeable for a man in my position to have his character belied in this way." "We certainly heard a story from a mad woman, but she spoke in a way which led us to suppose she described an actual occurrence," said Headland. "From what you say I conclude you are Mr Gaffin who addressed me last night." "The same at your service, Captain Headland. I have no further questions to ask, however, since you can give me no account of my old shipmate; I am sorry to hear of his death; good-day to you, sir," and Gaffin moved on, taking the direction of the mill. This last interview left a still more unfavourable impression on Headland's mind of Mr Miles Gaffin. He did not like the expression of the man's countenance or the impudent swagger of his manner; while it was evident by the way he talked that he was a person of some education. Headland tried to recollect whether he had before seen him, or whether his old protector had ever mentioned his name.