Charlie was so thunderstruck by Randall's bold falsehood that he actually had nothing to say. He mechanically began to take off his jacket.
At this moment the clarion voice of Bill Sturdy was heard, as, hitching up his trousers a bit, he left the mast against which he had been leaning, and advanced into the midst of the assembled sailors.
"Captain Brace," he said, in a tone firm but respectful, "if you'll allow me, I'll tell you what I know of this affair."
"So you know something about it, do you?"
"I thought so," said Randall, in a low voice, for he had disliked Bill from the first.
"I do," was the composed reply, "but I have no reason to be ashamed of what I do know."
"I think," said the mate, "we already know all that we require, since we have discovered the thief."
He was apprehensive, from Bill's tone, that what he had to say might put a different face on the matter, and perhaps clear Charlie.
Captain Brace, however, did not choose to be guided by the implied advice of his first officer. He had a curiosity to learn what Sturdy had to communicate.
"Say on; what do you know of this affair?"