"Them was the cap'n's words," said Mr. Smith, coldly. "After you'd 'ad
it they was going to stow you away in the Seabird, which sailed this
morning. However, when the cap'n see you overcome, his 'art melted, and
instead o' putting you aboard the whaler he took your feet and Mr. Wilks
your 'ead, and after a great deal o' trouble got you upstairs and put you
to bed."
"You miserable scoundrel," said the astonished Mr. Nugent, addressing the
shrinking steward; "you infernal old reprobate--you--you--I didn't think
you'd got it in you."
"So far as I could make out," said Mr. Smith, kindly, "Mr. Wilks was only
obeying orders. It was the cap'n's plan, and Mr. Wilks was aboard ship
with 'im for a very long time. O' course, he oughtn't to ha' done it,
but the cap'n's a masterful man, an' I can quite understand Mr. Wilks
givin' way; I dessay I should myself if I'd been in 'is place--he's all
'art, is Mr. Wilks--no 'ead."
"It's a good job for you you're an old man, Sam," said Mr. Nugent.
"I can hardly believe it of you, Sam," said Miss Nugent. "I can hardly
think you could have been so deceitful. Why, we've trusted you all our
lives."
The unfortunate steward quailed beneath the severity of her glance. Even
if he gave a full account of the affair it would not make his position
better. It was he who had made all the arrangements with Mr.
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