“He is a prisoner in the little sloop not far from here,” replied Shaky.  “McDougall here, Judith, the two boys and myself were on board a sloop which I am told was stolen from you by your brother and presented to Martin when the two latter personages overhauled us in the Petrel.  I sent the boys into the hold, and, when Arnold came on board, we tied him hand and foot and put him in the cabin.  I have not seen him since.”

“I will send my man with you to bring him here at once,” said Allan Dilke.  “If he will promise to leave the country, never to return, I will let him go free.”

Shaky, Sandy McDougall, Martin and Judith, accompanied by Jacob, left the house, and then Allan Dilke turned to Arno.

“Were you given to understand that this Martin and Judith were your parents?” he asked.

“Yes, sir; though I never could believe it.  Once, I overheard Captain Dilke talking to Martin about me, and I knew from what they said that the captain was my uncle.”

The tones of the boy were respectful, yet confident, and Allan Dilke smiled as he looked into the earnest eyes that met his.

“I can see the Dilke blood shining in your eyes,” he said.  “Who knows but what you are the son whom we have so long mourned as dead?”

“I feel convinced that he is,” replied Mrs. Dilke.  “Something tells me as plainly as words could do that he is our own flesh and blood.”

They were talking in this way, when footsteps were heard at the door.

“The men have returned,” said Allan Dilke, gravely, rising to his feet.  “Now I must meet my brother who has wronged me so deeply.”

Jacob entered the room, followed by Bart Loring, alias Jasper Leith, alias Shaky, the latter carrying a bundle.

“Your brother will trouble you no more,” said he of the various cognomens.  “We searched the cabin of the sloop in vain; but beneath the cabin floor, in a close compartment, we found him, his hands clutching a great quantity of gold, but he was—­dead!”

As he spoke, he dropped the bundle upon the carpet.  It fell heavily, with a metallic chink, which denoted the character of its contents.

Allan Dilke buried his face in his hands.

“Let the dead past bury its dead,” he said, solemnly.  “He needs not my mercy now.”

“And what will we do with the money?” asked he who had been known as Shaky.

“Divide it between this man McDougall, Judith and yourself,” replied Allan Dilke.  “I want no portion of it, and I will provide for this brave boy whether he be my son or not.”

From this day onward the recovery of Allan Dilke was rapid, and, after the body of Captain Dilke had been consigned to the earth, Martin produced proofs of Arno’s true identity, which fully satisfied the happy father and mother that their little family circle was complete.

Martin was allowed to go free, and, in company with Judith, who was exceedingly loth to part with Arno, betook himself to Grand Manan Island, where he resides to this day, a reformed, repentant man.