"Yes, Uncle Joe; but when Nat offered me one a while ago, I took it before I thought of what I was doing. I forgot I had promised you I wouldn't smoke any more."
"I never gave him a cigarette!" burst out Nat.
"That will do!" exclaimed the captain. "You'll have your chance later."
He placed the box he had taken from Nat's pocket on the table in front of him.
"Did you ever see that box before?" he asked of the mate. "Did you ever see your nephew have it?"
"No, sir."
"Is that your box of cigarettes?" the captain asked Sam.
"No, sir; it belongs to Nat," which was the truth, as far as it went, since Sam had mentally made Nat a present of it.
"So it's yours, then?" turning to Nat.
"No, sir, it is not!"