"It's the truth. Ye ca' me a murderer. What then dae ye ca' Mistress Narby, wha acted the pairt o' Jael." "Mrs. Narby?" ejaculated Kyles, with a start and a frown. "Aye," mumbled Gowrie, "she brocht forth butter in a lordly dish, an gie him milk tae drink, foreby it wis a chop an' beer. Then the limmer, for want o' a hammer an' a nail, cut the auld mon's windpipe." "Is this true?" Kyles seized Gowrie by the throat fiercely. "Augh, augh," choked the tutor, grasping at the hands which clutched him, "ask her yersel!" Captain Kyles loosened his grip, and walked up and down the long cabin, while Gowrie drank more liquor to restore his courage. And truly he needed all the courage he possessed, for the position he was in, terrified him not a little. Kyles was evidently a lawless man, and as no one knew that he, Gowrie, had been kidnapped, he could be put away in the manner described by the Captain, very easily. Fondling the glass, and looking as dismal as a sick monkey, Gowrie shivered and quailed at every glance of the Captain's fierce eyes. Finally after a short silence Kyles returned to the side of the table opposite to Gowrie. "See here," said he, striking the table with his closed fist, "these notes, and that gold belong to me." "Aye. I ken you wis expected by Sir Simon on that nicht." "How do you know that?" "The lawyer body told Sweetlips Kind how Sir Simon had written a letter to you on the 'Tarabacca,' the which is this boat." "But how did Ritson know that the letter was addressed to me?" "It's a lang story." "Then you tell it, or by Heaven, over the side you go. I have too much at stake to waste time on your babbling, Mr. Gowrie. I am aware that Herries is free, as he deserved to be, for he is innocent. But he and that Cheap-jack, and the lawyer, and the doctor, all think that I am guilty, and should they discover certain things, I may be arrested." "Then ye are guilty?" asked Gowrie, shrinking. "No. Would I have accused you were I guilty? Would the notes have been buried in that back garden were I guilty? Use a little common-sense, man, and tell me what Herries and Co. are doing. I'm not going to be laid by the heels if I can help it, and I want that money," he pointed to the box. "Ye have it,--ye have it." "And much good it will do me. If it was in gold I would put you in a boat and steam away south at once, but those are notes, Mr. Gowrie, and the number of every note is in the possession of the police. Did I present those notes, I would be----" "But ye can defend yourself." "I'm not so sure of that. There are certain circumstances----" "Then ye were in the inn on that night?" "Are you here to question me?" said Kyles fiercely. "Just you tell me what is doing in this case, so that I know where I stand, or prepare to be thrown overboard." "If I tell ye all, will ye let me go?"