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CHAPTER III THE DIGNIFIED NAVAL OFFICER Corny climbed over the high palisade fence, with the assistance of Mulgate, and the party walked to the sailboat at the beach below. By this time it was dark, though the gloom was not veiy dense under a clear sky. " Do you know anything about this boat, Corny ?" asked Mulgate, as the trio approached the handsome craft, for such she was beyond a doubt. The crusty tones of the speaker indicated that he had not yet recovered from the set-back he had plainly received in the late conversation, though he denied that he had any evil intentions in regard to Miss Florry. " I do ; I know all about her," replied Corny. " Well, why don't you tell what you know ? " demanded Mulgate. "What do you wish to know about her?" inquired Corny, who was disposed to maintain his equality in spite of the military rank of his companion, which he had incautiously betrayed in the beginning. " Whose boat is it ?" asked Mulgate. " She belongs to my cousin, Christy Passford." " Where is he now?" " I don't know, sir." " Was he at the house when you were there ? " " He was not; and his mother had become rather anxious because he did not return to supper," replied Corny, becoming a little more pliable. " This is a rather large boat, Captain Carbo- neer," added Mulgate, as he surveyed the trim sloop. " She is rather too large for our purpose." " She will answer very well," replied the captain, as he applied his shoulder to the stem of the craft to ascertain how heavily she rested upon the beach. " Now, do you know whether there is any person on board of that steamer ? " " Of course, I don't know anything about it," said Mulgate. " I am sure I don't," added Corny. " I sent youup here to ascertain all about the Bellevite," ...
