“I believe you’re lying to me, you old rascal,” exclaimed Frank.

“No, young master,” answered the negro; “every word I have told you is gospel truth.  You see, my daughter waits on Miss Annie, and I find out every thing.”

“You say Miss Phillips has a sweetheart in the army?”

“Yes; and he was here to see her not long ago.  He is a lieutenant, and has gone up to Conway’s Point, with two cannons, to fire into steamers.  His name is Miller; and you would know him from a long scar on his left cheek.  Wasn’t Miss Annie on board your boat two days ago?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Well, she stole a book.”

“A book!” repeated Frank.  “What kind of a book?”

“I don’t know the name of it.  It was a small book, and had lead fastened to the covers.”

“By gracious!” exclaimed Frank, “that was the captain’s signal-book.”

“Yes; she told my daughter that she took it out of the captain’s room.”

Frank did not stop to buy any marketing, but hastily catching up his basket, he hurried back to the vessel.

“Orderly,” he exclaimed, as he approached the marine who always stood at the cabin door, “ask the captain if I may see him.”

“He hasn’t got up yet, sir.”

“That makes no difference.  Tell him that I have something particular to say to him.”

The orderly went into the cabin, and, in a few moments, returned, and said: 

“The captain says walk in, sir.”

“Captain,” said Frank, after he had closed the door carefully behind him, “have you lost your signal-book?”

“No, I guess not;” answered the captain, in a tone of surprise.  “What makes you ask?”

“I heard, a few moments ago, that it had been stolen from you.”

“I have not had occasion to use it for two or three weeks,” answered the captain, getting out of bed; “but I know exactly where I put it;” and he opened a drawer in the sideboard, and commenced to overhaul the contents.

“Set me down for a landlubber,” he exclaimed, at length, “if it hasn’t been stolen.  It isn’t here, at any rate.”

Frank then related the conversation which had taken place between himself and the negro, and the captain continued: 

“Well, I always thought those folks had some object in view, or they would not have been so friendly.  I can’t reproach myself for neglecting my duty, for I watched them pretty closely.”

“I wonder how that girl knew that the signal-book was in that drawer,” said Frank.

“I suppose she must have seen me put it in there,” said the captain.  “Now, the question is, now to go to work to recover it.  It will do no good to search the house.”

“If you will leave the matter in my hands, sir,” said Frank, “I will agree to recover the signal-book, and capture that mail-bag which they intend to send across the river in a few days.”

“Well,” said the captain, “it was you who first knew that the signal-book was gone, and I believe you ought to have the honor of sifting the matter to the bottom.  Find out all you can, and call on me for any assistance you may need.”