in, Jasper, but it's like Latin, and I should think must
mean 'Remember,' or something of the sort."

"'Remember,'" I repeated. "I will, uncle. As surely as father was
murdered, I will remember--when the time comes."

They were strange words from a boy. My uncle looked at me again, but
doubtless thinking my brain turned with grief, said nothing.

"Have you told anybody?" I asked at length.

"I have seen nobody. There will be an inquest, of course, but in
this case an inquest can do nothing. Murderer and murdered have both
gone to their account. By the way, I suppose nothing has been seen
of the man who gave evidence. It was an unlikely tale; and this
makes it the more suspicious. Bless my soul!" said my uncle,
suddenly, "to think it never struck me before! Your father was to
sail in the _Belle Fortune_, and this man gave the name of the ship
as the _James and Elizabeth_."

"It was the _Belle Fortune_, and the man told a falsehood."

"I suppose it must have been."

"I know it was."

"Know? How do you know?"

"Because the _James and Elizabeth_ is lying at this moment in
Falmouth Harbour, and her captain is down at the 'Lugger.'"

Thereupon I told how I had met with Captain Antonius Merrydew.
Nay, more, for my heart ached for confidence, I recounted the whole
story of my meeting with John Railton, and the struggle upon Dead
Man's Rock. Every word I told, down to the dead man's legacy--the
packet and letter which I hid in the cow-house. As the tale
proceeded my uncle's eyes grew wider and wider with astonishment.
But I held on calmly and resolutely to the end, nor after the first
shock of wonderment did he doubt my sanity or truthfulness, but grew
more and more gravely interested.

When I had finished my narrative there was a long silence. Finally
Uncle Loveday spoke--

"It's a remarkable story--a very remarkable story," he said, slowly
and thoughtfully. "In all my life I have never heard so strange a
tale. But the man must be caught. He cannot have gone far, if, as
you say, he was here at Lantrig only the night before last. I expect
they are on the look-out for him down at Polkimbra since they have
heard the captain's statement; but all the same I will send off Joe
Roscorla, who is below, to make sure. I must have a pipe, Jasper, to
think this over. As a general rule I am not a smoker: your aunt does
not--ahem!--exactly like the smell. But it collects the thoughts,
and this wants thinkin