by the time they reached the landing. A sailor from the
yacht was in waiting for them with a motor-equipped tender, similar to
that of _The Isabel_. The man had already made his painter fast to the
disabled boat, ready for towing it back to the yacht. Very quickly, the
detective and fisherman were aboard, and the little boat was chugging
sturdily toward _The Hialdo_. Van Dusen reflected, almost with a sigh of
regret, that his work was practically at an end. There remained only to
make a report to the Collector of the Port and the Justice of the Peace
at Beaufort. He would exhibit to them the cap and the accompanying note,
and thus the case would be done with. The evidence would eliminate
Doctor Garnet from further consideration.

Ichabod regarded the detective as a man of extraordinary experience and
ability. He proposed to avail himself of the wisdom here ready to his
need.

"Mr. Van Dusen," he demanded suddenly, "air ye a fambly man?"

"I suppose," was the answer, given with a smile, "you mean by that, am I
so lucky as to have a wife and children."

"That's it!" Ichabod agreed.

"No, my friend, I am sorry to say that I am not. I suspect I'm one of
those fellows that will keep putting it off until it's too late. But,
why do you ask?"

"I reckon the reason is," the old man said very solemnly, "cause I'm
goin' to be, myself, an' that right soon. An' I thought if ye was, ye
might be able to give me a little advice 'bout the pre-nuptals, as Sarey
calls 'em. She mentioned it, an', to tell ye the truth, I didn't know
the meanin' o' the remark. Is it something pertain' to weddin' frocks
an' things, or air ye like me, igornant? She said, jest before I left,
that it'd take a little time for the pre-nuptals, an' since I ag'in
realized how unsartin life is, I sorter thought I'd like to have it over
with to-morrer."

Van Dusen smiled.

"I don't think you need to worry, Captain Ichabod," he declared
soothingly. "I think the pre-nuptials will be satisfactorily adjusted by
you without any trouble. All you need to do is to walk up to your girl
to-morrow, and wave before her the five-thousand-dollar check Roy
Morton's going to give you as your reward. So long as you have the
wherewithal for the post-nuptials you don't need to worry about the
pre-. Then you might tell her that there's a fine yacht all ready to
take the two of you north for a honeymoon trip."

Van Dusen dropped his bantering tone and spoke with great cordiali