“Believe me or not, Mr. Williams, I am innocent,” I cried. “Mr. Markham gave me this boat――at least he said I could have her. I went on a hunt for her, and took Tom Darrow the fisherman with me. I found that a fellow named Andy Carney had taken her to Rock Island, and was at work on her. We waited till Carney and his chums, two in number, had left the island, and then we hooked fast and dragged her over here. That’s the whole story, and it’s the truth.” And I looked the boat-owner squarely in the eye as I spoke. My manner had an effect upon him. He bit his lip. “You say Darrow helped you find the boat?” he asked. “Yes, sir. If you don’t believe it, ask him. Every one in the Bend knows Tom wouldn’t lie about it.” “And you say a fellow named Carney took the boat in the first place?” “Yes, sir. He had two strangers with him.” “Then if your story is true I will have Pointer arrest that man. This mutilation of my property is shameful. But you must come along and prove your story.” “Tom Darrow isn’t at the Bend now. He left to call on Gus Hallett, who lives about half a mile up the main road.” “Is he there now?” “I think so.” “We’ll go up and see him at once,” said Mr. Williams. Leaving the other man in charge of the Catch Me, with instructions to sail her over to Bayport, the boat-owner told the constable and me to lead the way. We met Darrow just coming away from the Hallett cottage. He was surprised to see me, and more surprised when I informed him of the object of our coming. “What! Rube steal that boat!” he exclaimed. “Why, Mr. Williams, it’s plain to see you don’t know much about the Bend! The Stones are every one of them as honest as a summer day is long.” And then he told what he knew of the affair. His statement corroborated mine so well that the boat-owner was forced to believe that I had told him the truth; but he was still indignant regarding the treatment the Catch Me had received, and he made us promise to appear against Carney whenever wanted. We then walked back to the mill-landing. As we did so, Mr. Norton came out of the mill, and approached with a questioning look on his face. “What’s up?” he asked. “Nothing much,” I replied briefly. “There seems to be,” he went on. “Who are you?” asked Mr. Williams. “I am Enos Norton, this boy’s uncle and guardian.” “Ah, indeed! Well, you can be thankful. We came very near arresting the boy.” Mr. Norton was greatly taken aback. He asked half a dozen questions at once, and he grew pale at the mention of Carney’s name. “Have――have you arrested that man?” he faltered. “No; but we’re going to,” replied Constable Pointer. “Of course, of course,” said Mr. Norton uneasily. “He has done a great wrong. Reuben, you should have told me that Mr. Markham gave you the sloop.”