ver returned. The audience
dispersed to talk over the event among themselves.

Levi's friends, including Mr. Gayles, who had listened with the deepest
interest to the proceedings, were satisfied that the whole affair was a
conspiracy. Mr. Watson's theory was, that Dock Vincent had robbed the
miser himself, and had employed the absentee to place the bag in Levi's
room, intending himself to be on the way to Australia before Seaver
returned. As the matter stood, nothing could be proved. But Mr. Gayles
declared that he should watch Dock Vincent and a "certain other
person," whose name he declined to mention, by night and by day, until
some evidence was obtained. It was not enough to vindicate the
innocent; the guilty must be exposed and punished.

"Then Levi didn't steal my money, arter all," said Mr. Fairfield to
Dock Vincent, after the other people had gone.

"Yes, he did. Levi's smart, and knows how to cover up his work."

"We don't know no more'n nothin' in the world what's come on't," sighed
Mr. Fairfield.

"Levi's got it; and it will come to light yet," repeated Dock.

"I donno whether he has or not."

"That nigger lied all the way through. Folks that tell the truth don't
spin no sich yarns as he did. If I catch that nigger in the right
place, I'll pound him till he tells the truth, for Levi certainly
bribed him to tell that story. He didn't say a word about Ben Seaver on
board the vessel. He only did it to get his master out of a
scrape--that's all, you may depend upon it."

"All I want's my money, and I don't keer much whether Levi took it or
not, if I only git it," groaned Mr. Fairfield.

"Don't be alarmed, Squire Fairfield. You'll get your money one of these
days--every dollar of it, for Levi's got money enough to make up for
what he spends. I've got some one in a situation to keep watch of him,
and something'll leak out before long. You keep a stiff upper lip,
Squire Fairfield, and it'll all come out right in the end," added Dock,
as he turned to leave.

"I don't feel quite so sartain as I did that Levi done it," replied Mr.
Fairfield.

"Yes, he did, and that nigger got him out of the scrape. Levi's smart,
and so's the nigger. Wasn't it cunning for him to say the bag was given
him by a man who has gone off on a fishing voyage? I can see through
that trick with my eyes shut. I shall keep an eye on Levi, and on that
nigger too," said the comforter, as he left the room.

Dock was sorely vexed at the r