we expect from the men? I must, however, consider
whether we shall allow these boys to return home. They are young now,
but in a short time they will grow into sturdy fellows."

"They've got tongues in their young heads," remarked the colonel. "I'm
not altogether certain that they are quite as innocent as they look.
Maybe they were sent on shore as spies, and perhaps are midshipmen
disguised as common seamen."

"Let them be searched, then, and ascertain whether they have any papers
about them which may show their real character," said the general.

Jack and Bill clearly understood these remarks, and began to feel very
uncomfortable.

Bill remembered that Jack had got his pockets filled with gold, and Jack
remembered it too, and wished that he had left it behind in the cavern
as Bill had advised.

The colonel, who was in no wise particular as to what work he performed,
at once took hold of Bill.

"Come, young gintleman," he said, "let me see what you have got in your
pockets, and next your skin; or, if you will save me the throuble, just
hand out your orders or any papers you may have about you."

"I have got none, sir," answered Bill. "I told you the truth, that we
are mere ship-boys, and as to being spies as you seem to think, we had
nothing to spy out that I know of."

"Well, we will soon see all about that," said the colonel, beginning to
search Bill; but, greatly to his surprise, he found nothing whatever
about him, except his knife, the whole of Bill's worldly wealth, "I told
you so, sir," said Bill, when he had finished. "I spoke only the truth
about myself and my companion." Bill said this, hoping that Jack would
escape the search; but the colonel was far too knowing, and presently he
seized upon Jack, who, in spite of his efforts to appear unconcerned,
began to quake.

The first plunge the colonel made with his hand into one of Jack's
pockets brought forth a number of gold pieces. "Hurroo! now, this is
your innocence is it, young gintlemen?" he exclaimed, exhibiting a
handful of gold to the general. "Let me be afther seeing what your
other pocket contains;" and as he spoke he quickly drew forth another
handful of gold, some of which, observing that the general and the other
officers were examining the first which he had produced, he slipped into
his own pocket.

"Troth! you're an arrant young rogue," he exclaimed. "You either stole
these, or they were given you to bribe the people to betray