A steward, a little later, came to where the rescued ones were talking together—Brisco and Lacomb having gone off by themselves—and the steward said the steamer's captain wanted to talk to the schooner's commander.
"There he is," said Mr. Pertell, pointing to Jack Jepson. "That's our new captain."
The steward looked. A queer change came over his face.
"Jack!" he cried. "Is it really you? I've looked all over the world for you!"
"Tom Buttle!" cried Jepson, leaping to his feet. "My old shipmate. Say, if anyone knows, you do, that I never had a thing to do with that mutiny on the Halcyon. Don't you know I didn't?"
"Of course I do!" the steward cried. "I can prove you were as innocent as a babe, and I know others who can, too."
"What's this—more of the mystery?" asked Alice.
"It's the end of it, I hope," said Jack solemnly. "Tell 'em, Tom!"
"There isn't much to tell," the steward said. "I was a shipmate with Jack on the Halcyon or the Mary Ellen, in the old days. He's probably told you of the mutiny. I was hurt in it, and lay unconscious when they arrested him for it. I didn't recover until he had been put in jail, and when I tried to give my evidence, I could get no one to listen to me. Then I heard Jack had escaped and I rested easy. I never knew the charge was hanging over him all this while.
"I've been all over the world since, sailing in different vessels, and in every port I'd inquire of Jack from those who knew him. But I never found him until now. Clear him—of course I can clear him of the unjust charge!"