he cabin Nat found assembled Mr. Bumstead and Sam Shaw, besides
the commander of the ship, who, looking very stern, sat in a big chair
behind the table.

"I wonder where Mr. Weatherby is?" thought Nat. "He said he'd stand by
me. I hope he comes."

"There's no need to state the reasons why we are here," began the
captain. "I'm determined to get at the bottom of this smoking
business, and put a stop to it. Does your nephew smoke?" he asked,
turning to the mate.

"I--er--I think he used to, but he told me he had given it up, I think
he has. Haven't you, Sam?"

"Yes, Uncle Joe; but when Nat offered me one a while ago, I took it
before I thought of what I was doing. I forgot I had promised you I
wouldn't smoke any more."

"I never gave him a cigarette!" burst out Nat.

"That will do!" exclaimed the captain. "You'll have your chance
later."

He placed the box he had taken from Nat's pocket on the table in front
of him.

"Did you ever see that box before?" he asked of the mate. "Did you
ever see your nephew have it?"

"No, sir."

"Is that your box of cigarettes?" the captain asked Sam.

"No, sir; it belongs to Nat," which was the truth, as far as it went,
since Sam had mentally made Nat a present of it.

"So it's yours, then?" turning to Nat.

"No, sir, it is not!"

"Who is telling the truth here?" asked the puzzled captain.

"I am!" declared Sam quickly.

"You are not!" cried Nat. "I never owned that box."

"I found it in your pocket," declared the commander.

"Because he put it there."

"I have already said I don't take any stock in that story. What object
would he have in doing that?"

"I don't know, but he did it."

"I'm sure my nephew would not do such a thing," said the mate. "I know
Nat smokes, for I have seen him smoking about the dock when we had
occasion to tie up there."

"I used to," admitted our hero, "but I gave it up. If you will call
Mr. Dunn," went on Nat desperately, "I think he could give some
evidence."

"What kind?" asked the captain sneeringly. "Did you make up some for
him?"

"No, sir, but he says he saw Sam smoking before I passed him there on
the deck, and warned him it was against the rules."

"Hum! Well, I suppose I'll have to send for him," which the captain
did.

Mr. Dunn told how he had seen Sam smoking before Nat had occasion to
go to that part of the deck where the mate's nephew was.

"Are you sure of this?" asked the mate sternly, before Captain
Marshall