“The boy didn't know.”
“There! it is always so. The fools! they never know.”
“Stop a bit, captain, there is a clew (your own word).”
“Ay, and what is the clew?”
“As soon as ever the note was safe in his bosom he says: 'I sold you, blind mate; I'd have given fifty sooner than not done this job. Look here!' says he, 'I have sworn to have a life for each of these;' and, captain,” said Jem, suddenly lowering his voice, “with that it seems he held up his right hand.”
“Well, yes! yes! eh!”
“And there were two fingers a-missing on it!”
“Ah!”
“Now those two fingers are the ones you chopped off with your cutlass the night when the tent was attacked.”
“Why, Tom, what is this? you never told me of this,” cried George.