e two; but the constable quieted him,
while Mr. Watson patched up the wounded dignity of the cabin steward,
who was doubtless a much better man than Dock. He had formerly been the
body servant of a French gentleman in Louisiana, and he could read and
write, and spoke French fluently. He wrote his name "C. Augustus
Ebenier," and he insisted that his surname should be pronounced
A-ba-ne-a. He was a person of no little importance in his own
estimation, and had a southern negro's contempt for mean whites, of
whom Dock Vincent seemed to be the meanest specimen he had yet seen.

[Illustration: MR. C. AUGUSTUS EBENIER IS WRATHY.--Page 112.]

"Now, Mr. Ebony, we will proceed with this examination."

"A-ba-ne-a, if you please, your honor," suggested the witness, with the
politest of bows.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Ebenier," said the justice, with a smile. "You
placed the bag and the money in the locker--did you?"

"I did, your honor; in the captain's locker: but I didn't comprehend
what was in the bag at the particular moment when it was in my
possession."

"Exactly so."

"I was not precisely informed in regard to the nature of the contents
of the bag, which was agglomerated in a mass, and exceedingly heavy for
the bulk of the parcel, appearing to consist only of a portion of tow
cloth."

"Just so, Mr. Ebenier; we are fortunate in being able to understand
you."

"I beg your honor's pardon, but the initial E in my surname should be
pronounced like long a."

"Excuse me, monsieur," laughed the justice; "but my French is rather
rusty. Will you do me the favor to indicate in what manner the bag and
its contents came into your possession."

"With pleasure, your honor. Yesterday afternoon, just previous to
Captain Fairfield's going on shore----"

"Who?" asked Squire Saunders, who was not familiar with Levi's new
title.

"Captain Fairfield, your honor."

"You mean Levi?"

"No, your honor; far be it from me to commit the gross disrespect of
calling the captain of the yacht in which I sail by his Christian name.
Captain Levi Fairfield, your honor."

"Go on, then. I know whom you mean."

"Yesterday afternoon, just as Captain Fairfield was going on shore--I
disremember the precise time, but it was about five o'clock, post
meridian."

"That is sufficiently accurate, Mr. Ebenier. Do me the favor to
proceed."

"I beg your honor's pardon, but these interruptions have a tendency to
prevent me from following accurately