"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never put him out."
"Who is it that has hurt him?"
"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never touched him."
Vanslyperken was about to vent his anger, when Smallbones said, "If you please, I don't know what's a-going on. Why here, sir, the men washing the decks have found your carving-knife abaft, by the traffrail. Somebody must have taken it there, that's sartain."
Vanslyperken turned pale.
"Who could have taken it?"
"That's what I said, sir. Who dare come in the cabin to take the knife? and what could they have taken it for, but unless it was to cut summut?" And Smallbones looked his master full in the face. And the lieutenant quailed before his boy. He could not meet his gaze, but turned away.
"Very odd," continued Smallbones, perceiving the advantage he had gained.
"Leave the cabin, sir," cried Vanslyperken.
"Sha'n't I make no inquiries how this ere knife came there, sir?" replied Smallbones.