WHO STOLE THE MUTTON? 165

 Now, Billy thought this accusation the more likely
 to be true, in that Jack, who of course was totally
 unused to a sailor's hard fare, had openly complained
 of the hardship of having salt beef continually for
 dinner, and had demanded some fresh meat in a rather
 impatient manner the day before.
 And now Jack's assurances that he had not touched
 the meat, but had found the dish empty, were not
 credited; and finding the worst was being believed of
 him, the old dogged and obstinate look came to his
 face, and he sullenly determined to defend himself no
 longer.
 His silence exasperated the hot-tempered cook
 still more, and his voice and accusations became
 louder and louder, until at last they were overheard
 by the first mate, who, having finished his smoke,
 was unfortunately passing near.
 "What has the young rascal been at now?" he
asked Billy, with an ominous frown coming over his
countenance.
 The cook started; he had not known of the mate
 being near, and though irritated at Jack's supposed
theft, he was far from desiring that the boy should
fall into the hands of this cruel man. So he muttered
something about having had to give him "a rowing,"
and it being "all right" now, until the mate forced
him to explain matters in full.