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"Yes," said Nat, stepping forward, "I am Captain Burns. What do

you want?"

"I come from the gunboat Albatross," said the officer, "and

represent Captain Foraker. You have on board, have you not, a man

named Code Schofield, also of Freekirk Head, under arrest for the

murder of a man or men on the occasion of the sinking of his

schooner?"

Nat scowled.

"Yes," he said. "I arrested him myself in St. Pierre, Miquelon. I

am a constable in Freekirk Head."

"Just as we understood," remarked the officer blandly. "Captain

Foraker desires me to thank you for your prompt and efficient

work in this matter, though I can tell you on the side, Captain

Burns, that the old man is rather put out that he didn't get the

fellow himself. We chased up and down the Banks looking for him,

but never got within sight of as much as his main truck sticking

over the horizon.