They were fishermen, probably, who came from the Michigan shore and awaited their opportunity off Beaver Island.

But I shall investigate this; believe me, I shall investigate this fully, Captain Plum!" Nathaniel felt something like a great choking fist shoot up into his throat.

It was not a sensation of fear but of humiliation--the humiliation of defeat, the knowledge of his own weakness in the hands of this man who had so quickly and so surely blocked his claim.

His quick brain saw the futility of argument.

He possessed no absolute proof and he had thought that he needed none.