that the missionary should be sitting on an inquiry
board. Meeker returned his gaze in a disinterested manner, swaying in his
chair with the motion of the ship, and fumbling his shell crucifix, as if
it was a talisman to guard him against danger.

Crannish was dismissed, and the next was Petrak. He impudently winked at
me as he stepped into the light, and hitched up his trousers in a
nonchalant manner that was amusing. He had his shoes in his hand, and he
had evidently dressed in a hurry to obey the summons of the mate.

"Petrak's my name, sir, and they make a joke on my head by making me out
'Dago Red,' sir. Been bos'n in--"

"He was relieved at eight bells, sir; has the wheel in the Dutchman's
watch," explained Harris.

"Where did you go then?" demanded the captain.

"Turned right in, sir, after a bit of a wash."

"Where were you at one bell?" put in Harris, giving the captain a
significant look.

"For'ard in my bunk, sir."

"You lie," drawled Harris coldly. "Ye passed the galley ports a minute or
so after one bell was struck. I saw ye."

"Not me, sir; never anything like that, sir, beggin' ye're pardon."

"Yes, ye did, and don't ye lie to me," retorted Harris. "Ye didn't go
right for'ard when ye come off watch. I heard ye yarnin' with Buckrow, or
what's his name, just after ye passed the galley. Yer phiz showed plain
to me as Cape Cod Light on a clear night."

"Where's your knife?" said Riggs suddenly, leaning forward and peering at
his belt.

"Left it in my bunk, sir. Top one, first to port as ye go down--right at
the head it is, sir, in some straw."

"Send a man for it, Mr. Harris. Is it in the sheath, you Petrak?"

"Can't say, sir," said Petrak, looking about nervously, and feeling at
his belt.

"Can't say! Can't say! You can't say because that's yer knife right there
under yer eyes! That's yer knife and you killed this man!"

"Tell the truth, my good man," interjected Meeker, holding up his hands.
"Tell the truth and--"

"Belay!" yelled Riggs. "You speak when ye're spoken to, Mr. Meeker, if
you please!"

"No offence intended--purely involuntary on my part. I beg your pardon,
my dear sir."

"That's your knife and you killed him," repeated Riggs to Petrak.

"Never killed him, sir, and nobody else, strike me blind if I did, and
that's the truth, sir," said Petrak doggedly, but in spite of his brave
showing there was a whimper in his voice and his knees trembled. "Did you
have an accomplice?