let in the dog, whose lame leg
instantly excited his indignation, and he then rang his bell for
Smallbones, who soon made his appearance.

"How came the dog out of the cabin, sir?"

"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never put him out."

"Who is it that has hurt him?"

"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never touched him."

Vanslyperken was about to vent his anger, when Smallbones: said, "If you
please, I don't know what's a-going on. Why here, sir, the men washing
the decks have found your carving-knife abaft, by the taffrail.
Somebody must have taken it there, that's sartain."

Vanslyperken turned pale.

"Who could have taken it?"

"That's what it said, sir. Who dare come in the cabin to take the
knife? and what could they have taken it for, but unless it was to cut
summut?" And Smallbones looked his master full in the face. And the
lieutenant quailed before his boy. He could not meet his gaze, but
turned away.

"Very odd," continued Smallbones, perceiving the advantage he had
gained.

"Leave the cabin, sir," cried Vanslyperken.

"Sha'n't I make no inquiries how this ere knife came there, sir?"
replied Smallbones.

"No, sir, mind your own business. I've a great mind to flog you for its
being found there--all your carelessness."

"That would be a pretty go," murmured Smallbones, as he shut the cabin
door.

The feeling of vengeance against Smallbones was now redoubled in the
breast of his master; and the only regret he felt at the transactions of
the day before was, that the boy had not been drowned.

"I'll have him yet," muttered the lieutenant; but he forgot that he was
shaving himself, and the involuntary movements of his lips caused him to
cut a large gash on his right cheek, from which the blood trickled fast.

"Curses on the--(razor he was going to say, but he changed to)--
scoundrel!"

A slice with a razor is certainly a very annoying thing. After a
certain time, Mr Vanslyperken finished his toilet, called for his
breakfast, went on deck, and as the day was fine, ordered the paint to
be renewed, and then went on shore to ascertain if there were any
commands for him at the admiral's office.

As he walked up the street in a brown study, he at last observed that a
very pretty woman dogged him, sometimes walking a-head and looking back,
at others dropping astern, and then again ranging up alongside. He
looked her in the face, and she smiled sweetly; and then turned her head
coquettishly, and