"What is the matter, Pencroft?" asked the reporter.
"The matter is, that it was not I who made this knot!" And Pencroft showed a rope which fastened the cable.
"What, it was not you?" asked Gideon Spilett.
"No! I can swear to it. This is a reef knot, and I always make a running bowline."
"You must be mistaken, Pencroft."
"I am not mistaken!" declared the sailor. "My hand does it so naturally, and one's hand is never mistaken!"
"Then can the convicts have been here?" asked Herbert.
"I know nothing about that," answered Pencroft, "but what is certain, is that someone has weighed the Bonadventure's anchor and dropped it again! And look here, here is another proof! The cable of the anchor has been run out, and its service is no longer at the hawse-hole. I repeat that someone has been using our vessel!"
"But if the convicts had used her, they would have pillaged her, or rather gone off with her."
"Gone off! where to-to Tabor Island?" replied Pencroft. "Do you think they would risk themselves in a boat of such small tonnage?"
"We are, besides, not sure they know of that island," rejoined the reporter.
"However that may be," said the sailor, "as sure as my name is Bonadventure Pencroft, of the Vineyard, our Bonadventure has sailed without us!"
The sailor was so positive that neither Gideon Spilett nor Herbert could dispute his statement. It was evident that the vessel had been moved, more or less, since Pencroft had brought her to Port Balloon. As to the sailor, he had not the slightest doubt that the anchor had been raised and then dropped again. Now, what was the use of these two maneuvers, unless the vessel had been employed in some expedition?
"But how was it we did not see the Bonadventure pass in sight of the island?" observed the reporter, who was anxious to bring forward every possible objection.
"Why, Mr. Spilett," replied the sailor, "they would only have to start in the night with a good breeze, and they would be out of sight of the island in two hours."
"Well," resumed Gideon Spilett, "I ask again, what object could the convicts have had in using the Bonadven-
