e restraint of the preceding
weeks gave all the keener zest to his enjoyment. He was the very last
to leave the water, and when he came out several of the boys had
already dressed and gone away. He did not notice this until he took up
his clothes to put them on. Then, to his surprise, he found that his
vest, containing the money that he had collected, was missing.

Thinking that this was merely an attempt at a joke on him, he said
good-humouredly, as he hastened to dress,--

"When you fellows have done with that vest, just bring it back, will
you?"

But the only response was a general protest of entire ignorance on the
part of those around him, and although, growing angry, he threatened
all sorts of vengeance upon the perpetrator of the joke if he did not
promptly make restitution, he was still met by persistent denials.
While in the very midst of this, Tom Morley came down the wharf looking
sharply about him. On catching sight of Terry he first made as though
he would go up to him. Then a thought flashed into his mind that
caused him to halt, and with a smile of malicious satisfaction playing
over his ugly face, he wheeled about and vanished up the wharf.

But threaten or coax as he might, Terry could learn nothing as to what
had become of his vest, save that it must have been carried off by one
of the boys who had gone ashore and dressed before any of the others,
and--what made matters worse--the latter did not seem to know anything
about him. They had not seen him before that day, and they had no idea
whence he had come or whither he had gone.

When the full sense of his loss came to Terry he was in a sad state of
mind. The thief, whoever he was, had got away not only with the fifty
dollars, but with the silver watch--Miss Drummond's gift. Little
wonder then if the poor boy, going off to a corner where he would not
be observed, gave way to tears.

He felt himself to be in a very serious plight. Had he been doing his
duty when robbed he need not have feared an explanation. But he had
been neglecting his duty; and not only so, but Tom Morley, who, as he
well knew, would take only too much pleasure in telling on him, had
caught him in the act.

"I can never go back to the office," he sobbed. "They'll not believe
me whatever I say. They'll be thinkin' I've taken the money myself,
and made up a story to get out of the scrape. Oh, if I could only lay
my hands this blessed minute on the villain that run