Mr. Norton, as I shall continue to call him for the present, pressed his mouth together tightly. “I don’t know you,” he snapped. “What!” “I say I don’t know you.” “Do you mean to deny that you are Norton Bixby?” “I certainly do.” “I can prove it to be true, sir,” returned Mr. Markham with energy. “How?” Mr. Norton asked the question coolly, and I saw that the city gentleman was nonplused. “We will see later,” he returned, and then spoke to the judge in a low tone. “I am Enos Norton, and this boy’s uncle,” went on my pretended guardian. “This man and the boy, who is a bad egg, have hatched up this scheme against me.” “We will find out the truth of the matter at the trial, or before,” said Judge Green. “In the meanwhile, Oldman, remove the prisoners, and see to it that neither of them gets away. You, Stone, I will let go on the bail furnished to Squire Slocum. I suppose you can be found at your mill whenever wanted?” “Yes, sir; either there or somewhere in the vicinity. Dan Ford will be able to tell where I am at any time.” “That will do then. Mr. Markham, I will consult with you later. Will you dine with me this evening?” “With pleasure, Judge,” was the reply. A little later the hearing was brought to a close, and Mr. Norton and Yates were led away. The police authorities remained in Bayport to await the return of those who had gone in search of Avery. Ford and I went down to the dock and hired a man to take us over to the Bend. “I would like to know just how much this Carney had to do with the affair,” I said as we were crossing. “Not much, I guess,” returned Ford. “He is an awfully ignorant fellow, and merely did what was told him in the shape of sailing the men where they wanted to go.” “I am inclined to think that way, Dan. But you can’t always tell about these matters. I trust that they will catch Avery and get back the Catch Me,” I continued. “I wouldn’t have that boat injured for a good deal.” “No; she is too fine a craft for that.” At the Bend, Ford and I separated; and I hastened along the road to the mill to assure myself that nothing had occurred during my absence. As I hurried on, I thought over the way Mr. Norton had acted since he had come to the Bend, and I could not believe but that Mr. Markham was right, and that he was not my uncle at all. This thought gave me much satisfaction, but there was a great deal in it to worry me. If Mr. Norton was an impostor, what of the letter he had written to me concerning my father’s death? Had my parent met his end in the manner described, or was it possible that my dear father was alive? Fervently I prayed that such might be the fact, that my father might some day come back to me. The prayer brought a hope, and I walked along with a lighter tread after I had uttered it.