"I'm sure nothing is wrong," replied Nat. "I went over my list carefully, and I am positive the boxes are on board."
"And I say they're not," insisted the mate. "I guess I've been in this business long enough to know more than a green lad who has only been here a day."
"You want to be careful, Nat," went on Captain Marshall. "I have always depended on Mr. Bumstead in regard to matters connected with the stowing of the cargo."
"I am sure those boxes are aboard, sir," went on Nat firmly. "If you will allow me to take a look I think I can find them."
"What! Go through all the cargo after it's stowed away!" exclaimed the angry mate. "I guess not much! I'll not allow it!"
The door of the cabin opened and there entered the pilot, Mr. Weatherby. He started back on seeing the mate and Nat.
"Oh, excuse me," he said. "I didn't know you had any one in here, Captain Marshall."
"That's all right, come right in," replied the commander. "There's a little difficulty between Nat and Mr. Bumstead, and I'm trying to straighten it out."
He related what had taken place, and told of the missing boxes.
"And there you are," he finished. "It seems to be quite a mix-up, and I'm sorry, for I like to keep my cargo and the records of it straight."
"Hum," murmured the pilot. "Mr. Bumstead says the boxes are not here, and Nat says they came aboard, eh? Well, I should think the easiest way would be to look and see if they are here or not."
"That's what I proposed," exclaimed Nat eagerly.
"Yes! I guess I'll have you disturbing the whole cargo to look for ten small boxes!" exclaimed the mate. "Not much I won't! I'm right, and I know it!"
"No, I think Nat is right," said Mr. Weatherby quietly.
"Do you mean to tell me I made a mistake?" inquired Mr. Bumstead.
"I don't know whether you did or not. But I know Nat's plan is the only one that can decide the matter. If the boxes came aboard the last thing, they can't be very far down among the rest of the cargo. It will not take long to look. What do you say, captain?"
Captain Marshall was in a sort of quandary. The mate was his chief officer, and he wanted to be on his side because Mr. Bumstead owned some shares in the ship, and also because Mr. Bumstead relieved the commander of a lot of work that, otherwise, would have fallen to the share of the captain. On the other hand Mr. Marshall did not want to offend the pilot. In addition to being a relative of his, Mr. Weatherby was one of the stockholders in the company which owned the steamer _Jessie Drew_, and, as the captain was an employee of this company, he did not want to oppose one of the officers of it.