the deck, fussing and fuming. Something had gone
wrong with him. Jack kept out of his way. He had already got hold of
one of his own junior officers, to whom he was explaining what had
happened. At last he came up to Jack.

"I must beg you, Captain Rogers, to put back. My dressing-case, with
valuables to a large amount, has been left behind; and it will to a
certainty be stolen. I cannot do without it while campaigning; and it
will be a fearful inconvenience not to have it on board. I will give
you a written request, if you think it necessary to have one."

"I cannot return to harbour for such a purpose, even with a written
request from you," answered Jack, scarcely able to restrain his
laughter. "Perhaps the case in question has been brought on board after
all. If not, anything I possess I shall be happy to place at your
disposal."

"You do not possess what I require, I am sure," answered the major.

"But tell me what it is that your case contains which I cannot supply!"
said Jack.

The major took Jack by the arm and led him out of earshot of his
officers. "My second set of teeth," he whispered. "I confide the fact
to you; I shall never masticate my food without them; I shall die of
indigestion."

Jack could not help giving way to his inclination to laugh. "I own,
major, I do not possess a second set of teeth of any description, but we
will try the doctor; he is a clever man, and although such things are
not supplied among our medical stores, he may possibly have some."

"I shall be most grateful if he can furnish me," answered the major, in
the same tone as before; "but if you will not return into port, I must
request you to institute a search for the dressing-case. You will not
speak of its contents?"

Jack promised to do as the major requested, and directed Tom to learn if
any case belonging to one of the officers had been carried forward or
stowed away by mistake.

The major having allowed his "woman kind," as he called them, time to
shake into their berths, went below. He had not been there long before
Jack, who had gone to his cabin, heard a low whispering from within. He
caught the words--

"It was your fault!"

"It was yours!"

"I tell you it was not. I looked after everything entrusted to me.
Sniggins should have kept a better eye on your baggage."

"No; he was not to blame. It was your business to look after the
smaller articles; for what other reason do I carry you and your