had been the first intimation that there was a warrant for his
arrest, and that Nat knew of his appropriation of the fifteen hundred
dollars belonging to Mr. Morton.

It is true the mate had fancied Nat was suspicious, after the lad had
seen the wallet, and questioned him about it, but, when some time
passed, and nothing resulted, the scoundrel thought that Nat either
had his suspicions lulled, or did not know how to go about recovering
the money. That a previous plan to arrest him had failed, by his shift
of vessels, the mate never dreamed.

Now he knew he must make another change. It would not be safe to
remain aboard the _Spray_. Accordingly, when he had reached shore,
after his sensational leap for liberty, he sought refuge with a man he
knew at Cove Point. He remained there until he heard that Nat had
left, and that the policeman, very reluctantly, had given up the
search.

Then the mate sent for his nephew, and the pair took what money was
coming to them and left town. About two weeks after this the mate
secured a place on the freighter _Liberty Bell_, which plied up and
down Lake Huron.

"Uncle Joe, what did that officer want?" asked Sam Shaw of his
relative, one day, when he happened to mention their former place
aboard the _Spray_. "Was it in connection with that charge you made
against Nat before the pilot board?"

"Well--er--yes--that was it. They wanted my testimony."

"Why don't you give it to them? I'd like to see that Morton chap
locked up. How did he escape being sent to jail on your charge?"

"I don't exactly know," replied the mate. "I guess he is only out on
bail."

"I hope they send him to prison for a long time. I can't bear him,
he's so stuck up, thinking he's a regular pilot."

"Well, I'll fix him," murmured the mate. He did not want his nephew to
know about the accusation Nat had made, for he was afraid Sam might,
unconsciously, betray him. Nor was the mate altogether easy regarding
the charge he had made before the pilot board. He had read in the
papers about that case, and how he was wanted for contempt of court.
He thus had to face two charges, and he knew he must be very careful
when he went ashore, lest he be arrested.

"We'll meet the vessel that Morton fellow is on, this trip, Uncle
Joe," went on Sam.

"How's that?"

"Well, we're going to Bay City, and the _Mermaid_ is coming to
Detroit, according to the papers."

"Is that so?" asked the mate, suddenly interested. "I wond