en in by a rascal
like that," muttered Jack to himself.

Sam Truax added a few more details to his confession, then said:

"I couldn't die without telling you this, Benson. I hope you forgive me."

Before Jack Benson could reply Lieutenant Commander Mayhew stepped
forward.

"Truax, have you told us the exact truth?"

"I have."

"You thought it would be easy to get the better of a boy like Benson, I
suppose."

"Easy enough," admitted Sam. "So did Tip."

"You shot far below the mark in guessing at Benson's ingenuity and
brains," remarked Doctor McCrea, laughing. "It was he who suggested this
way of inducing you to make this confession after you had refused to
answer the lieutenant commander's questions."

"What?" demanded Truax harshly.

"When I was first called in to you, you were not sick, only scared by the
remarks of others. After we got you in here, we dosed you with ipecac.
That started your stomach to moving up and down."

"What? You poisoned me?"

"The ipecac was my choice. It isn't poison. The general idea was Captain
Benson's. With a lad like him you haven't a chance."

"Benson, you infernal cheat, you!" muttered Truax, and started to get out
of the berth. But he was weak, and the attendant had no difficulty in
thrusting him back.

"In view of what you've been telling us, you'd better not sprinkle bad
names about," said the surgeon, turning on his heel. He was followed by
the others, all chuckling.

"Mr. Benson," said Doctor McCrea, when the party was in the cabin, "are
you my friend?"

"I certainly am, sir," cried Jack warmly.

"Thank you," said the doctor, making a comical face. "With your head for
doing things, Mr. Benson, I feel safer with your friendship than I should
if I had your enmity."

While they were still chatting in the cabin of the gunboat a shot sounded
on deck. Then a corporal of marines rushed in, saluting.

"The prisoner, Truax, sir, escaped while walking under guard on deck. He
dived headlong, sir. The marine guard fired after him through the
darkness, sir. The officer of the deck sends his compliments, sir, and
wants to know if Truax is to be pursued in a small boat."

"At once, and with all diligence," ordered the lieutenant commander.

Though a thorough search was made, Truax was not found. It was thought
that the fellow had been drowned. But months later it was learned that he
was skulking in Europe with Tip Gaynor, who had received word in time to
make his esc