“But how did you manage to escape from the search made by the police at Algesiras?”
“Oh, sir! I was on board the frigate all the time in my old hiding place.”
“And when the ship was searched directly after?”
“I was ashore at that time.”
“And how did you manage at Malta?”
“The landlord was my sworn brother, and wouldn't have blabbed for a thousand pounds.”
“And the capers on the yardarm and topgallant, the visits paid to Tom Brown at Syracuse, and the wonderful stories told by the sailors of being robbed of their tobacco, getting tipsy upon nothing, and being led astray by nobody? What do you say to all this, Mr. Ghost?” said the captain, smiling.
“I never paid but two visits to the ship, so far is I remember, sir, after she left Malta. One was the night I wanted to talk with Tom Brown, the other when he disappeared the night afterwards. The rest of the stories were all owing to the jokes of some of the sailors, and the fears of the others.”
“But you are sure you did not jump into the sea with Tom Brown, in a flame of fire?”
“Yes, sir, as I am an honest man. Tom got away without any help of mine, and without my ever knowing how, until a long time afterwards, when I accidentally met him at Liverpool.”