“We went equal shares in loading the brig Rockhaven with valuable merchandise, for trade among the Santa Barbara Islands.  There was also, aboard the brig, some valuable papers, and a considerable sum in gold, that was to go to a client of ours.  After the ship was loaded I learned that Blowitz sent some mysterious boxes aboard.  They came from Boston, I understand.  I—­”

“Those are the boxes we saw in Cresville!” exclaimed Bob.

“What’s that?” asked Mr. De Vere, and the boys explained the curious actions of Blowitz in connection with the boxes.

“Very likely they were the same,” said Mr. De Vere.  “What they contained I do not know, but I—­”

“Excuse me for interrupting you,” said Jerry, “but I think at least one of the boxes contained something poisonous,” and he related how the dog, in the Cresville freight station, had been affected by smelling at the broken package.

“That’s it!” suddenly exclaimed Mr. De Vere, after a moment’s thought.  “I see it all now.  I can understand his actions.  But I will explain later, for I want to be very sure of my facts.  At any rate, not to burden you with too many details, after the brig had sailed, Blowitz wanted to purchase my interest in her.  As he offered me a large sum I consented, and I transferred all my rights to him.

“As soon as I had done so he left town, and then I learned that he had cheated me, for he had pretended to give me certain property for my share in the ship, and this property he gave me was utterly worthless.  I then considered the deal off, and I knew that I still had a right to my half of the ship and the cargo.  But, more than this, I also learned that Blowitz had cheated me in another way, by taking property and money that belonged to me.  I consulted my lawyers, and they told me I had a right to the entire ship Rockhaven and all that it contained.  I am the sole owner, and Blowitz has no right to the brig nor anything on it.  It is all mine, though he is trying to get it.

“This all happened before the brig was abandoned and became a derelict, but I can’t understand how that happened, as she was a very stout vessel, though small.  There has been no collision, as far as I can learn.  It is all something of a mystery, but I am going to solve it.  As soon as I learned what a scoundrel Blowitz was, and of the wrecking of the brig, or, at least, the reported wrecking of it, I came here for further news.

“When I met Blowitz I accused him of cheating me, and I claimed the brig, when she should be found.  He wanted to argue with me, and talked of seeing lawyers, but I knew I was right.  Then he asked me to meet him on the clips to-night, to talk matters over.  He said we might get some news of the ship from the captain of a fishing smack.

“Rather foolishly I consented to meet him, and talk the thing over.  We quarreled, and he attacked me, with what result you saw.  He pushed me over the cliff, and fled, leaving me, I suppose he thought, for dead.