ON SHORT ALLOWANCE. 175

“And have been doing a deal of that sort of work
before this, sir. I’ve had my eye on them for two or
three days; but there was absolutely nothing to report, so
held my tongue. Now, however, I think it would be a
good idea if we kept them well in sight.”

“T should have suggested that to you, if you hadn't
spoken first,” and then Ben told him of Eliphalet’s report,
concluding with the remark, “I don’t really anticipate any
trouble; but, under the circumstances, I think it best to
be too cautious rather than too careless in regard to them.
The steward will be more likely to find out if anything is
going wrong than we shall, and will report it at once to
Miss Dunham.”

«Then she knows all the facts of the case?” Mr. Bean
asked, and Ben had a very strong impression that the
mate was questioning in his own mind whether the captain
of the brig should not have confided in his officers before
taking counsel with a young lady, however charming she
might be.

“Yes, I was literally forced to tell her. Old Eliphalet’s
report troubled me not a little, and she pinned me right
down to know what was the matter; so I thought the
truth would answer best in that case.”

“May I ask when you first learned of the disappearance
of the water, sir?”

“Yesterday.”

Again the mate looked as if he thought he ought to
have heard of the matter before; but said nothing, and
Ben asked :