usion that the
ruffian had been disguised, for Hasbrook would certainly have known him,
even in the dark, in his usual dress. They returned to the shore; and
the bundle was lifted, to convey it to the beach.

"It is very heavy," said Hasbrook. "I suppose there is a rock in it to
sink it."

"Open it, and throw out the rock," added the sheriff.

Instead of a rock, the weight was half a pig of lead, which had
evidently been chopped into two pieces with an axe.

"That's good evidence, for the ballast of the Juno is pig lead," said
Beardsley, as he stepped on the beach with the clothes in his hand.

They were spread on the sand, and consisted of a large blue woolen
frock, such as farmers sometimes wear, a pair of old trousers of very
large size, and a pair of heavy cow-hide boots.

"Now I think of it, the man had a frock on," exclaimed Hasbrook.

"That's what made him look stouter than the captain," added Beardsley,
as he proceeded to measure one of the boots, and compare it with the
notes he had made of the size of the footprints. "It's a plain case;
these boots made those tracks."

"And here's the club he pounded me with," said Hasbrook, taking up a
heavy stick that had been in the bundle.

"But where in the world did Captain Shivernock get these old duds?"
mused the sheriff.

"Of course he procured them to do this job with," replied Hasbrook.

"That's clear enough; but where did they come from? He has covered his
tracks so well, that he wouldn't pick these things up near home."

"There comes a boat," said the victim of the outrage, as a sail rounded
the point.

"Get out of the way as quick as you can," added the sheriff, in excited
tones, as he led the way into the woods near the cove, carrying the wet
clothes and boots with him.

"What's the matter now?" demanded Hasbrook.

"That boat is the Juno; Laud Cavendish is in her, and I want to know
what he is about. Don't speak a word, or make a particle of noise. If
you do, he will sheer off; and I want to see the ballast in that boat."

Laud ran his craft up to the rocks on one side of the cove, where he
could land from her; but as it is eleven o'clock, the hour appointed for
the regatta, we must return to the city.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE GREAT RACE.

It was nine o'clock when Donald turned out on the day of the great
regatta. He had returned at three in the morning, nearly exhausted by
fatigue and anxiety. It was horrible to be suspected of a crim