Charlie Codmans Cruise 23

Charlie Codmans Cruise 23

Antonio came up with an __EXPRESSION__ of malicious satisfaction, which

Bill did not fail to notice.

 

"I wish," he thought, "I knew exactly what the fellow has been doing."

 

Bill was destined to learn ere long.

 

The captain went below, and glanced carelessly at the place where he

remembered to have left the ring. To his surprise, it had disappeared.

 

"What can have become of it?" he thought.

 

He instituted a careful examination, but did not succeed in finding the

lost article.

 

He prized it beyond its actual value, which was considerable, and began

to feel alarmed. It occurred to him that he might have been mistaken

about leaving it on the table. It might possibly have been dropped upon

deck.

 

Going on deck, he communicated his loss to the crew and requested a

general search.

 

"I think, Captain Brace," said Antonio, officiously, "that I can guess

where it is."

 

"Where?"

 

"I saw that boy have it," pointing to Charlie.

 

"It's a lie!" exclaimed Charlie, surprised and indignant.

 

"We'll see about that," said the captain, with a sneer. "Do you know

what he did with it, Antonio?"

 

"I think he may have hidden it in his chest."

 

"Let his chest be brought on deck, and publicly examined. If he is

found guilty, he shall be punished, as sure as my name is Brace."

 

 

 

 

XXIV.

 

CHARLIE GETS INTO TROUBLE.

 

 

Charlie, at first taken by surprise when the charge of theft was

brought against him, now looked scornfully indignant. Ignorant of the

ways of the world, and the wickedness of which some men are capable, he

never, for a moment, feared the result of the investigation. As for the

crew, they had already become interested in his favor, and now pitied

him for the unfortunate position in which he found himself placed. None

of them believed him guilty.

 

As the captain had directed, his chest was brought on deck.

 

Before this was searched, however, he was subjected to a personal

examination, at which nothing was discovered. There was a murmur of

satisfaction.

 

"The lad never stole the ring," said a stout seaman, standing next to

the real perpetrator of the crime, Antonio.

 

"Don't be too sure of that," said the Spaniard, in a malignant tone.

"His chest hasn't been searched yet."

 

"I don't care for that; I can tell by his face. A lad, with such a

figure-head as that, wouldn't do anything mean or dishonorable."

 

"You seem to have taken a great fancy to him," sneered Antonio. "You

mustn't trust too much to appearances. He looks to me as if he were

guilty."

 

Charlie's cheeks were flushed, but not with shame or confusion. It was

indignation, that he should be suspected of such a disgraceful crime.

 

By his side stood Bill Sturdy, who took an opportunity of whispering

into his ear, "Never you mind, my lad, even if the ring is found in

your chest."

 

"But it isn't there," said Charlie.

 

"It may be," said Bill, who, by this time, suspected the nature of

Antonio's two errands below.

 

"How should it be there?" asked Charlie quite in the dark.

 

"It might have been put there, my lad."

 

"But who could put it there?" persisted our hero, but little

enlightened.

 

"Hark you, my lad," said Bill, still farther lowering his tones;

"you've got more than one enemy on board this ship."

 

"The mate?"

 

"Yes, and the captain too, for that matter."

 

"But neither of them would put the ring in my chest."

 

"No, probably not."

 

"Then who would?"

 

"There is another enemy besides these two."

 

"Do you mean Antonio?"

 

"Yes."

 

"But he seemed friendly lately."

 

"He isn't to be trusted, my lad. He's borne a grudge against both of us

ever since I got the better of him the other day, and he's made up his

mind to be revenged. I've been watching him when he didn't suspect it,

and know more than he thinks I do."

 

"Do you know anything of this affair, Bill?" asked Charlie, looking up

hopefully into the face of his friend.

 

"I expect I do."

 

"What is it?" questioned our hero, eagerly.

 

"I shall save it till it will do some good. But see, they have nearly

finished searching your chest. Perhaps the ring is not there after all."

 

As Bill said, the search was nearly completed. Charlie's clothes had

been unceremoniously tumbled out upon deck, which was not calculated

to improve their appearance, and the captain and mate, who had shown

themselves particularly active on the occasion, were peering about in

search of the lost ring.

 

It chanced, however, that the ring had got in a fold of one of the

shirts which lay upon deck. Of course, therefore, the search in the

chest proved unavailing.

 

"I doubt whether it is here," said the captain, in a tone of

disappointment.

 

"Let us look a little longer," said the mate, who could not so easily

resign the chance of getting into trouble the boy whom he hated with a

malevolence such as his nature was capable of.

 

Antonio became alarmed at the prospect of all his plans being

frustrated by a failure to find the ring.

 

When the mate also gave up the search, he came forward, and, addressing

the captain, said,--

 

"Captain Brace, if you will let me assist in the search, perhaps I can

succeed in finding it."

 

"You are the one that saw the boy have it, are you?" queried the

captain.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"How long since?"

 

"About half an hour."

 

"Why did you not mention it at the time?"

 

"I thought perhaps he had only picked it up, and would give it back to

you," said the Spaniard, in some confusion. "I didn't want to charge

him with the theft till I felt sure he meant to steal it."

 

"And what makes you feel sure he did so intend?"

 

"Because when you said the ring was lost, he did not come forward and

restore it."

 

"Ay," said Captain Brace, "that is strongly against him. If it is

found that he has concealed it anywhere, he shall repent it, by----"

 

It is unnecessary to stain our pages by printing the oath with which he

emphasized this assertion.

 

"What reason have you for supposing that he concealed it in his chest?"

asked the mate.

 

"Because I saw him go down below," answered Antonio, with unblushing

falsehood.

 

"It's a lie," said Charlie, boldly. "I haven't been below this morning."

 

"Silence!" thundered the captain, scowling menacingly; "don't add

falsehood to theft."

 

"I haven't been guilty of theft," said Charlie boldly.

 

"Silence!" again thundered the captain, "or it will be the worse for

you."

 

"You had better not say anything more, my lad," whispered Bill Sturdy;

"we shall yet bring you off with flying colors. Don't you fear. Bill

Sturdy is your friend, and he will stand by you."

 

Charlie looked grateful.

 

When his statement had been so unequivocably denied by our hero,

Antonio suffered himself to look at him for one instant, but in that

brief glance was concentrated so much of spite and venom and malice,

that the boy could not help shuddering, as if the countenance of a

fiend had been unexpectedly revealed to him.