Page 378 of 416

"Yes, ma'am, I will," said the hypnotized man, and Nat, after a

glare around upon the unsympathetic audience slumped down into a

chair and smoked sullenly.

"Steady as she goes my friend," broke in Squire Hardy, looking at

Nat. "Answer the lady's question. What made you think you would

win?"

"I refuse to answer."

"He really doesn't need to answer," said Elsa. "I will answer for

him. Code kindly let me have the log of the M. C. Burns."

Schofield drew the old book from his pocket and handed it through

the bars. Then Elsa, opening it to the last pages, read aloud the

few entries that Code had discovered that day when he was a

prisoner aboard the Nettie B. As she read the silence was

intense, but all eyes were upon Nat, who, startled at the sudden

appearance of this document he had so long forgotten, chewed

savagely upon his dead cigar. His face had grown pale and his

rough hands were clasped tightly together.