“By Jove! Nuggy, you are getting slicker every day.”
“Ralph Branders won’t know where the blank paper came from, and of course he won’t do anything. In the mean time I will send the letter to my father, with the full particulars of all I have learned; and, when Pennington makes his next move, we’ll be more than ready for him.”
With great care Nuggy Polk opened the letter addressed to the Richmond lawyer, being cautious not to tear the envelope. Once open, the closely written pages inside were abstracted; and then the envelope was refilled with pages from a blank writing pad, after which it was sealed up once more as before.
When Nuggy revisited the berth deck, he found Gilbert sleeping as sound as ever. Hurrying up, he began to place the letter in the young lieutenant’s coat.
As mentioned before, the wind was rising. Consequently, the transport was not riding as easily as earlier on the trip. Just as Nuggy placed his hand in the coat, a lurch of the vessel sent him with a bump into one of the uprights supporting Gilbert’s cot, and then landed him flat on his back in the passageway.
“Oh!” cried the young man, and scrambled to his feet as quickly as possible. But the rolling of the ship and the noise made by Nuggy awoke Gilbert on the instant.
“What’s the matter?” cried the young lieutenant, and sat up, staring around him. Before he could get to his feet, Nuggy Polk was making off down the dim passageway, which was illuminated by only a few incandescent lights.
Nuggy Polk was making off down the dim passageway.
“Phwat’s the matter, lieutenant?” came from Dan Casey, who was dozing on the edge of his cot, not far off.