Mr. Vandersee's friends were true sailors.
Mr. Leyden has told me repeatedly that those naval seamen are false; and
since Mr. Vandersee disappeared a few days ago, never inquiring into the
matter of these two ships in the river, I'm inclined to believe him,
though I was almost persuaded that you were right and he was wrong."

"But my ship! He sunk her, didn't he?"

"I don't believe he did, Captain Barry," returned Natalie simply.
"Whether you know it or not, and I'd rather think you did not, I believe
somebody in your own crew sank your ship simply to annoy Mr. Leyden."

The skipper panted heavily, almost choked by his rising spleen,
tottering shakily, as temper battled with imperfect recovery of
strength. His lips opened and remained open, speechless; and his face
grew purple, then white, until Miss Sheldon cast off her own trouble and
saw in him only a patient needing the tenderest care. She assisted him
back to the hut and saw him safely on his cot; then he was given a
strong sleeping draft and slept clear through the night, awaking with
clearer head and a determination to say no more to Natalie until things
had straightened themselves out.

In the morning Mrs. Goring entered hurriedly and her first words were:
"Captain Barry, Miss Sheldon's disappeared! Gone utterly!"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The announcement staggered Barry and caused Little to gape like a
stranded codfish. The ex-salesman, not having suffered such a relapse as
the skipper, got in motion first and darted outside to get a better
grasp on things in the open air. Mrs. Goring and Barry, left alone,
looked at each other closely for a silent moment, then the skipper
gasped:

"Leyden's work!"

"I'm afraid it is," replied the woman, and her soft eyes moistened at
his agony. "His work or his agency, Captain."

"Mrs. Goring," Barry's voice grew level and cold, "will you tell me what
relationship there is between that sweet girl and that utter scoundrel?
She saw some of his fine work when Rolfe found us on those ant heaps;
she heard all about Leyden's fake sailors, by whom we were taken; she
told me over and over that she believed in Vandersee--yet last evening
she returned to the same old story, doubting me and my business, and
intimating that Leyden was the wronged innocent. I'm no lady's man--I'm
a simple sailor--and I'm blessed if I can fathom it!"

Mrs. Goring was silent for several minutes, gazing into his face with
deepest sympathy. She wa