Now the corporal had time to recover himself, and he argued that anything was better than that he should be suspected. Smallbones was already known to have attempted the life of the dog, so he would leave the lieutenant in his error.
"Mein Gott' he is von d----d kill-dog feller," observed the corporal. "I look everywhere, I no find te tog. Den de dog is dead?"
"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "but I'll punish the scoundrel, depend upon it. That will do, corporal; you may go."
As Snarleyyow remained perfectly quiet during this conversation, we must give Vanslyperken great credit for his manoeuvre. The corporal went to Smallbones, and repeated what had passed. Smallbones snapped his fingers.
"He may keel-haul, or hang me, for all I care. The dog is dead. Never fear, corporal, I won't peach upon you. I'm game, and I'll die so--if so be I must."
Vanslyperken sent for Smallbones. Smallbones, who was worked up to the highest state of excitement, came in boldly.
"So, you villain, you've killed my dog, and buried it."
"No, I ar'n't," replied Smallbones. "I knows nothing about your dog, sir."
"Why, the men on deck said so, you scoundrel, I heard them."
"I don't care what the men say; I never killed your dog, sir."