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"What else did those men say?" he asked in conclusion.

"If I remember right, an' I was perfectly clear at the time, this

is what one said: 'Fellers,' sez 'e to the other two, 'e

sez--'fellers, that young Captain Schofield in Freekirk Head is

goin' on the rocks, or I don't hear what's goin' on in my

office.'

"'Then they're goin' to sue him to recover part of his insurance

on the old schooner May Schofield?' asks the second.

"'If I didn't hear the chief say that this mornin' you can shoot

me on sight!' the first answers. An' then for a while I couldn't

hear any more, an' you can bet I was watchin' the door somethin'

awful for fear ma would come in an' spoil it all by draggin' me

off."

"But who were these men?" asked Code. "Whom did they mean by the

chief?"