"They've killed my uncle!" exclaimed Sam Shaw. "That's what they did! I heard them throw him overboard. That mean Nat Morton did it! I'll have him arrested for murder!"
"Oh, dry up!" exclaimed Nat, quite put out with the unexpected turn of events.
"I'll lick you; that's what I'll do!" cried Sam, advancing on Nat with outstretched fists.
"Keep away from me!" retorted Nat. "I whipped you once, and I can do it again!"
"He didn't push your uncle overboard," said one of the crew. "He jumped."
"That's what he did," added the policeman. "He got away from me, too. Somebody get me a boat."
"Because I'm an officer of the law, and a prisoner has escaped. I had him a prisoner, all right, for I had my hand on him, but he went so sudden he got away."
"There's a boat moored alongside," said the captain, when matters had been briefly explained. "But you want to hurry. I can't lay here all day, though how I'm going to sail without a mate is more than I know."
"I'll get him for you, but I'll have to take him right away again," said the officer. "He's a criminal and a fugitive from justice."
The mate might have been almost anything, as far as any denial on his part was concerned, for not a trace of him had been seen since he jumped overboard. Sam Shaw, mean as he was, had a genuine affection for his uncle, and he was much distressed about his relative.
"He's drowned! I know he's drowned!" he exclaimed, as he walked about the deck, half crying.
"Oh, dry up!" advised Nat savagely, for he knew the mate was a good swimmer, and he had no doubt but that Bumstead had managed to reach shore, under cover of the semi-darkness, and was far enough away by this time.
Meanwhile, the policeman got into a boat and rowed about, but all to no purpose. The mate had disappeared as completely as if he was at the bottom of the lake.
"Well," said Nat, much disappointed, "that's done with. It's a failure. I guess I'd have done better if I'd gone alone, and not taken the policeman with me, though he meant well enough. Now I'd better get some breakfast and then arrange to have some one row me out to meet the _Mermaid_."
He told the officer that he would have to leave.
"Very well," replied the policeman. "You may go, but I'll never give up hunting for my prisoner. It's the first time one ever got away from me, and I'm not going to stand it. I'll keep hunting until I find him, if it takes all day or a whole year. You had better leave me your address, and as soon as I arrest him, I'll let you know."