The door of the cabin opened and there entered the pilot, Mr.
Weatherby. He started back on seeing the mate and Nat.

"Oh, excuse me," he said. "I didn't know you had any one in here,
Captain Marshall."

"That's all right, come right in," replied the commander. "There's a
little difficulty between Nat and Mr. Bumstead, and I'm trying to
straighten it out."

He related what had taken place, and told of the missing boxes.

"And there you are," he finished. "It seems to be quite a mix-up, and
I'm sorry, for I like to keep my cargo and the records of it
straight."

"Hum," murmured the pilot. "Mr. Bumstead says the boxes are not here,
and Nat says they came aboard, eh? Well, I should think the easiest
way would be to look and see if they are here or not."

"That's what I proposed," exclaimed Nat eagerly.

"Yes! I guess I'll have you disturbing the whole cargo to look for ten
small boxes!" exclaimed the mate. "Not much I won't! I'm right, and I
know it!"

"No, I think Nat is right," said Mr. Weatherby quietly.

"Do you mean to tell me I made a mistake?" inquired Mr. Bumstead.

"I don't know whether you did or not. But I know Nat's plan is the
only one that can decide the matter. If the boxes came aboard the
last thing, they can't be very far down among the rest of the cargo.
It will not take long to look. What do you say, captain?"

Captain Marshall was in a sort of quandary. The mate was his chief
officer, and he wanted to be on his side because Mr. Bumstead owned
some shares in the ship, and also because Mr. Bumstead relieved the
commander of a lot of work that, otherwise, would have fallen to the
share of the captain. On the other hand Mr. Marshall did not want to
offend the pilot. In addition to being a relative of his, Mr.
Weatherby was one of the stockholders in the company which owned the
steamer _Jessie Drew_, and, as the captain was an employee of this
company, he did not want to oppose one of the officers of it.

"I suppose that's the only way out of it," the captain finally said,
though with no very good grace. "Only the whole cargo must not be
upset looking for those boxes."

"I'll be careful," promised Nat. "I think I know where they were
stowed."

"Um! You think you do, but you'll soon find you're much mistaken!"
said the mate scornfully.

"I'll give you a hand," said the pilot. "Mr. Simmon, my helper, is in
the pilot-house," he went on, in answer to a questioning glance from
Captain Marsha