had a chance to question Mr. Dunn. "Remember you are
blackening a boy's character by what you say."

Now, unfortunately for Nat, it so happened that Mr. Dunn had what is
termed a very "short" memory. He could recall matters distinctly for
only a short time after they occurred, unless he made a note of them.
That he had not done in this case. The mate saw his advantage, as the
purser hesitated, and he pursued it.

"Wasn't it _after_ you sent Nat to that part of the deck that you saw
Sam smoking?" he asked. "Wasn't it _after_ that?"

Mr. Dunn tried to recollect. His faulty memory went back on him, he
hesitated and stammered, he became confused, and the outcome was he
had to admit that he might have seen Sam smoking after Nat had met
him. The result was he did Nat's cause more harm than good.

"Well, I hope you're satisfied with your witness," remarked the
captain dryly. "I don't see that you've proved anything, whereas the
box of cigarettes is very damaging evidence against you."

Nat questioned Mr. Dunn, seeking to have him recall exactly what had
taken place, but the purser, much as he wanted to help his assistant,
failed dismally.

"I am compelled to say I believe you gave Sam the cigarette," went on
Captain Marshall, "and, much as I regret it, for I think you are a
hard-working lad, I shall have to discharge you. You broke a very
strict rule of the ship, one on account of which we might, in case of
fire, lose all our insurance. It is too flagrant to pass over."

"Then you believe him instead of me?" asked Nat faintly.

"I must say that I do."

"But I never had those cigarettes."

"The evidence is against you. What object would Sam have in putting
them into your pocket? That is a question you cannot answer
satisfactorily."

"I believe he wanted to injure me because I got this place that his
uncle wanted for him."

"Nonsense! I have a better place in view for my nephew," said the
mate. "He will take it as soon as this voyage for his health is
ended."

"As for traveling for his health, I wouldn't advise him to smoke any
more cigarettes," remarked the captain dryly, "no matter who gives
them to him."

"I'll not," promised Sam eagerly, congratulating himself on the
success of his plot.

"No, I'll see that he does not," added his uncle.

Poor Nat did not know what to do or say. Mr. Dunn had slipped out of
the cabin. The purser was sorry for what had happened, and most of all
he regretted his inability