ng
happens and you can't figger it out, it's usually because you haven't
pawed over the details carefully enough. Go ahead! I'm a good listener."

But after he had listened he had no comments to make. He went out of the
cabin after a few minutes' wait which was devoted to deep meditation,
and strolled about the ship, hands behind his back, scuffing his feet.
A half-hour later, meeting Captain Mayo on his rounds, the veteran
inquired:

"How do you happen to have Oliver Burkett aboard here?" "I don't know
him."

"You ought to know him. He is the captain the Vose line fired off the
_Nirvana_ three years ago. He gave the go-ahead and a jingle when he was
making dock, and chewed up four fishing-boats and part of the pier. He
had to choose between admitting that he was drunk, crazy, or bribed by
the opposition. And I guess they figured that he was all three. Was he
aboard here the night it happened?"

"I don't know, sir."

"According to my notion it's worth finding out," growled Captain Wass.
"I'm not seeing very far into this thing as yet, son, and I'll admit
it. But if dirty work was done to you, Burkett would have been a handier
tool for Fogg than a Stillson wrench in a plumbing job. No, don't ask
me questions now. I haven't got any consolation for you or confidence in
myself. I'm only thinking."

The next day the wounded _Montana_ was formally surrendered to the
underwriters.

Captain Boyd Mayo was ordered to appear before the United States
inspectors, and he went and told his story as best he could. But his
best was an unconvincing tale, after all. He left the hearing after his
testimony and walked down to the little hotel by the water-front to wait
for news.

Captain Wass came bustling down to the little hotel, plumping along at
an extra rate of speed, setting his heels down hard, a moving monument
of gloom.

His protege, removing disconsolate gaze from the dusty chromos on the
office walls, did not require verbal report; Captain Wass's demeanor
told all.

"And you couldn't expect much of anything else," declared the old
man. "I made the best talk I could for you after you had finished your
testimony and had gone out. But it was no use, son! The department has
been laying for a victim. Both of us have known that right along. They
have soaked it to you good and proper."

"How long am I suspended for?" faltered Mayo.

"That's the point! Indefinitely. You were meat. Everybody watching the
case. They trimm