THE SCHOONER ‘‘ EBBA”’ 75

tion, in order that no suspicion of his employer should
remain in the minds of the officers.

After the saloon and the other rooms had been sea rched,
the party proceeded to the dining-saloon, which was richly
decorated ; they ransacked the pantries, the cuddy, and
fore part of the vessel, the cabins of Captain Spade and
the boatswain, then the berths of the sailors, without
discovering either Thomas Roch or Gaydon.

There remained the hold and its accommodations.
These required an elaborate examination; so when the
hatches were lifted, the captain lighted two lanterns to
facilitate operations.

The hold contained only barrels of water, provisions of
all kinds, kegs of spirits, casks of wine and beer, and a
stock of coal—an abundance of everything, as though the
schooner had been provided for a long voyage. Through
the spaces in the cargo the American sailors slipped into
the innermost corners, even getting into the narrow spaces
between bales and sacks. They had all their trouble for
nothing,

Evidently Count d’Artigas had been wrongfully sus-
pected of any part in the capture of the inventor and his
keeper.

The investigation, which had lasted about two hours,
ended without result.

At half-past five the officers and men of the Falcon
came on deck again, having conscientiously gone through
the search and acquired absolute certainty that neither
Thomas Roch nor Gaydon was to be found in the interior