Pagina 187 di 416

At last he would know what the schooner was and why.

Eagerly he opened the message. It was typewritten on absolutely

plain paper and unsigned, further baffling his curiosity. After a

moment he read:

"CAPTAIN SCHOFIELD:

"Yesterday at St. Andrew's suit was filed against you for murder

in the first degree upon the person of Michael Burns, late of

Freekirk Head, Grande Mignon Island. Plaintiff, Nathaniel Burns,

son of the deceased. There is an order out for your arrest. This

is a friendly warning and no more. You are now fore-armed!"

CHAPTER XVII

TRAWLERS

Schofield stood as one stupefied, staring blankly at the fateful

words.

Murder in the first degree!

Had it not been for his thorough knowledge of Nat Burns's

character he would have laughed at the absurdity of the thing and

thrown the message over the side.