"What has gone ?" "The map," said the captain, tumbling his beard.

"I put it in this end pigeon-hole the other night after showing it and I haven't touched it since; and it's gone." "But you burnt it!" said Prudence, with an astonished laugh.
The captain started.

"No; I was going to," he said, eyeing her in manifest confusion.
"But you said that you had," persisted his niece.
"Yes," stammered the captain, "I know I did, but I hadn't.

I was just looking ahead a bit, that was all.

I went to the bureau just now to do it." Miss Drewitt eyed him with mild reproach.