y Cornwood!" exclaimed the colonel. "Did
you ever know a man to have so many excellent friends as I have? Why,
they are all willing to sacrifice themselves, and take my steam-yacht
and run her at my expense, and even without my knowledge."

"You did not write that letter, colonel?" asked Captain Blastblow.

"Of course I did not," replied the owner, warmly. "Why, the writing is
quite different from that given to you by my friend, Mr. Boomsby."

"I am afraid I shall not be willing to take any written orders after
this, unless the signature is witnessed by some one I know. I am sure I
did not think of such a thing as a counterfeit letter. But did you send
any letter to me by your excellent friend, Mr. Kirby Cornwood?" asked
Captain Blastblow.

"I did send a letter to you by him, instructing you to wait at Key West
till my arrival there," replied the colonel.

"Will you give me that letter, Mr. Kirby Cornwood?" demanded the
captain, addressing the prisoner in a very vigorous manner.

"I gave you the letter I received from Colonel Shepard. I have no
other," replied Cornwood, doggedly.

"I don't believe you, when Colonel Shepard says he did not write that
letter."

"Do you mean to tell me I lie?" cried Cornwood.

"That's the substance of what I mean," answered the captain, who seemed
to hold the prisoner in utter contempt.

"You are a coward, or you would not say that to a man with his arms
tied behind him," returned Cornwood, repressing his wrath.

"You invited me to say it, and I said it; and it wouldn't make any
difference to me whether your arms were tied or not. But I want the
other letter, and I am going to have it. Captain Cayo, we will search
him, and then we shall know whether he has it or not," added Captain
Blastblow.

The captain and the pilot proceeded at once to execute the threat.
Cornwood leaped from his chair, and began to kick at his two
persecutors. He was boiling with rage, or with some other passion. But
Captain Cayo seized him from behind by the shoulders, and threw him
down before he could do any harm. The captain took from his pocket a
strong cord he had evidently brought down for the purpose, and while
the pilot held him down, tied his ankles together. They then began the
search, examining all his pockets first. They found neither the money
nor the letter.

"We haven't gone deep enough," said Captain Blastblow, as he thrust his
hand into the inside of Cornwood's shirt. The latter seeme