“I did not steal your boat, Mr. Williams,” I replied as calmly as I could. “I have pretty plain evidence that you did,” returned the boat-owner warmly. “Nevertheless, you are mistaken, and you ought to know it.” “I ought to know it? Young man, what do you mean?” “Didn’t Mr. Markham pay you for the boat?” “Pay me! Not a cent, sir; not a cent!” I was surprised. “He didn’t pay you?” I gasped. “No, he didn’t; and besides, even if he did, the boat is still mine. When a man hires a boat for a day he isn’t supposed to keep her forever.” “Do you mean to say he didn’t even pay you for hiring her?” I asked faintly. “No, he didn’t; and you know it. He was the biggest rogue at the hotel, and when he left he owed me nearly fifty dollars for boat-hire.” The news actually staggered me. Mr. Markham a fraud! I could not believe it. “Well, he told me he would pay you for the boat, and then she should be mine,” I explained. “I saved him and his family from drowning when the boat went over. He even wanted me to take a reward besides, and took me to the bank to get the money.” “And did he get the money?” questioned Mr. Williams. “No; he had some difficulty, and”―― “Rather guess he did have some difficulty,” sneered the boat-owner. “That man was nothing more nor less than a swindler,” put in the constable. “He tried his best to do the bank out of several thousand dollars.” “I can hardly believe it,” I replied. “He looked every inch a gentleman.” “Where is the boat?” demanded Mr. Williams. “She is just in the cove above, sir. I suppose, then, she doesn’t belong to me,” I added, with a sinking heart. “Hardly, young man; unless you want to pay four hundred dollars for her.” “I couldn’t pay four hundred cents.” Considerably downcast, I led the way to where the Catch Me rode at anchor. All my high hopes concerning her and what I might realize by a sale melted away. “Then you didn’t take her on purpose?” asked Pointer, as we walked along. “Certainly not,” I replied. “I thought she was my property.” “It’s quite likely men are giving away such valuable presents,” sneered the man who had not yet spoken. “Nevertheless, he appeared wealthy enough to do so, and he said I could have her,” I cried hotly. “I wouldn’t steal a pin!” There was no reply to this, and presently we came in sight of the Catch Me. “That my boat?” ejaculated Mr. Williams. “That’s the Catch Me,” I replied. “Some men tried to steal her and alter her appearance.” “A likely story! This is some of your own work”―― “It is not!” “And I say it is. I believe you are in with this Markham,” stormed Mr. Williams. “You towed the boat in here, and expected to fix her up in such a fashion that no one would know her again. Pointer, I want him arrested.” I started back. The word arrest sent a chill through my body.