"I bought it in St. Louis."
"With the money obtained on the forged checks?"
"Yes; I spoke for the gold at a broker's, and he had it all ready for me. Then I presented my checks, and in less than fifteen minutes after they were paid, I was on my way out of the city. My plans would have worked well, if you had not crossed my path."
"Then the gold really belongs to the banks who paid the forged checks?"
"I suppose so. I have nothing more to expect in this world, and I don't care what becomes of it."
I did not tell him that he had nothing to expect in the next world, any more than in this, but that was the thought in my mind. His failure to recover the bark had completely disheartened him, and, like others whom I had seen under similar circumstances, he appeared to find relief in confessing his error, or at least in pointing out the cause of the miscarriage of his plans.
"Did you intend to rob me when you left St. Louis?" I asked.
"No; not exactly, though I knew you had the gold. I was afraid you would see and recognize me. I watched you closely, without being seen myself. I went to your trunk, and took your money when you were on the hurricane deck of the steamer. I had decided to go mate of this vessel, and went from New York to St. Louis to raise the money to enable me to buy some negroes on my own account. I wanted all I could get, and your gold was very convenient. I should have made a fortune out of this voyage, and then I intended to go to Chicago, marry Marian Collingsby, and be happy. You have spoiled my plan, and I have given up in despair."
"The plan was too wicked to succeed, even if you had not seen me. If you had made your fortune out of the flesh and blood of your fellow-beings, you would never have been happy with it; and Marian would have married a boa constrictor rather than you. Men may seem to succeed, but God never permits them really to do so, in such schemes."
"I am not quite ready to listen to any cant yet; I may be by and by," said he, bitterly. "You thwarted me once before, and I hated you. I came with you all the way from Parkersburg. I wanted you in the same vessel with me, for I knew, as you had lost your money, you must either work your passage or return to St. Louis. When I met Captain Farraday, I set him at work upon you, and succeeded in getting you on board of the vessel. I wanted to punish you; but the tables are turned upon me, and you are punishing me."