ght, cap'n.
Square away when ye're ready. The boat's all right." And the little
bushy-headed fellow turned and led the way down over the poop, entering
the forward cabin, where the steward was waiting to tell us how glad he
was we had turned up, and also serve out good grog with a meal of
potatoes and canned fruit.

I was so tired and hungry from the exertions of the past
twenty-four hours that I went below without further protest, Chips
following sullenly.

"I'se sho nuff glad to see yo' folks agin, Marse Rolling," said the
steward. "Take a little o' de stuff what warms an' inwigerates."

We fell to and ate heartily, and while we did so we told our story.
Trunnell sat, and every now and again scratched his bushy head with
excitement and interest while we told of the way Andrews had done. When
we told how Jim had come to be aboard the _Pirate_, he walked fore and
aft on the cabin deck, shaking his head from side to side, and muttering.

"Was Jim the only one who knew about the business?" he asked.

We told him he was, and that no one but Chips and myself had heard what
the detective had said.

Trunnell sat with his hands in his hair for the remainder of the time we
were filling ourselves. He said nothing further until Chips made some
remark about his taking the ship in. Then he arose and stood before us.

"It may be as ye say, Rolling. I'd hate to doubt your word, and don't,
in a way, so to speak. But discipline is discipline. You men know that.
Our captain comes aboard with a letter sayin' as he's the Thompson
what'll take the ship out. We has orders to that effect from the owners.
It ain't possible another man could have known o' the thing so quick,
and come aboard to take his place. Leastways, we hain't got no evidence
but the word of a sailor who's dead, to the contrary. It may be as ye
say, but we'll have to stick to this fellow until we take soundings.
When we gets in, then ye may tell yer tale an' find men to back it.
Don't say no more about it while we're out, for it won't do no good, an'
may get ye both in irons. 'Twas a devil ye had for a shipmate when
Andrews went with ye,--a terrible man, sure enough. I've insisted on
standing backwards an' forrads along the track for nearly a week in
hopes we'd pick ye up, an' I've nearly had trouble with the old man for
waiting so long. He's heard o' the fracas, an' will stand along to pick
up his third mate. I don't know as he'll care for Andrews, but he'll
take t