"Explain yourself," he said.

So Halbert told the story once more, taking good care to make the damage
quite as great as it was.

"That is very strange," said the lawyer, thoughtfully. "I can't conceive
how such damage could have happened to the boat."

"Robert Rushton don't know how to manage a boat."

"You are mistaken. He understands it very well. I am sure the injury
you speak of could not have happened when he was in charge. You say
there was not only a hole in the bottom, but it was otherwise defaced
and injured?"

"Yes, sir, it looked as if it had been hacked by a hatchet."

"Then it is quite clear that Robert could have had nothing to do with
it. It must have been done by some malicious person or persons."

Knowing something of Halbert, Mr. Paine looked hard at him, his
suspicions taking the same direction as his daughter's. But, as we know,
Halbert was entirely innocent, and bore the gaze without confusion.

"I don't see why Robert hasn't been and let me know of this," said Mr.
Paine, musing.

"He was probably afraid to tell you," said Halbert, with a slight sneer.