ing
detained as witnesses."

"I understand you; and I prefer to fight this battle in some other
State than Louisiana. I shall not try to escape; and I know that Nick
Boomsby will not. If I am not always honest, I am now; and I assure you
I don't know the reason for the savage treatment I received on board of
the Islander; and I will thank you to tell me. In a word, I entreat you
to do so."

I concluded that Cornwood wanted to prepare for his defence, for I was
satisfied that he understood the charge as well as I did. But he seemed
to be so earnest over the matter that I went over the case for him.

"When you started from St. Augustine to recover the Islander, you were
satisfied that Nick Boomsby had stolen the four thousand dollars," I
proceeded.

"On the contrary I was satisfied that Buckner stole it," interposed
Cornwood.

"I am stating my belief, be it right or wrong. When I told you about
the sailing of the Islander without her owner and his family, you were
satisfied that Nick was on board of her, and that he had the money
stolen from the messenger."

"Nothing could be farther from the truth; but go on," added the
Floridian.

"You would not have gone to Key West to stop the Islander at your own
expense."

"I did go at my own expense," added Cornwood, with a smile.

"But not to stop the Islander," I added.

"I admit that I had another mission there. I had been thinking of going
to Key West on business for a week."

"When you got there you forged a letter to Captain Blastblow, to induce
him to leave before the arrival of the Sylvania," I added.

"That was a little harmless strategy to enable me to carry out the
purpose for which I went to Key West," added Cornwood, with the
smoothest of smiles.

"I never heard forgery called by that name before," I replied, with
becoming severity.

"It was not to obtain money, or any other valuable consideration from
Colonel Shepard that I wrote his name. Why, I could have made two
hundred dollars by detaining the Islander," said the Floridian, with
spirit.

"Instead of doing what he employed you to do, you sold him out, and let
his steamer go off without him. You were satisfied that Nick had the
four thousand dollars with him, and you were bound to have the half, if
not the whole of it. It looks like a plain case."

"You are taking an entirely wrong view of the matter, Captain
Garningham," protested Cornwood. "I shall be able to prove in due time
that you are