coil of rope," he explained. "It looked to me like somebody had tried to throw them overboard and the wind had carried them back."
"That's not unlikely," said Oliver. "You didn't see anything of a flat, red leather case?"
"No, sir—and I looked around good, thinking I might find some of the money," continued the deck hand.
"Was there anybody on duty down here while the vessel was leaving the bay?" I asked.
"The head porter might have been around," answered Captain Steingard. "I will call him again." And he did so.
"I wasn't down here just at that time," said the head porter. "I was down before we left and about half an hour later. I had the after cabin to look to."
"Did you see anybody around while you were down here?" queried Oliver.
"I saw several ladies and two or three children. I don't believe, though, that they had anything to do with the robbery."
"Anybody else?"
The head porter scratched his head.
"There was a man coming down the stairs as I went up—not the first, but the second time—the man who took Stateroom No. 7."
"Who is he?" asked Dan.
"I don't know who he is. He was a tall,
