"Not yet; he is turbulent, and may make trouble there. We will keep him aft till we are in blue water. Come with me, Phil," he continued, in savage tones, which were a foretaste of what I might reasonably expect from him.
I followed him into the cabin, where he ordered me to wait his further pleasure. He looked into several state-rooms, and finally entered one of them, closing the door behind him. I had an opportunity for reflection; but I had nothing to think of but the misery which the future had in store for me. I sat down on a stool, and it was the literal stool of repentance to me. If I could only get on shore once more, I should be willing to give my word never to go to sea as a sailor again. Captain Farraday came below while I was there, but he said nothing to me. He enclosed some papers in an envelope, and soon left me alone.
He had hardly gone before Ben Waterford came out of the state-room. He had changed his clothes, and looked more like a sailor than before. When I first saw him, I recognized him as the "Mr. A. McGregor" I had seen on board of the steamer. Of course I had no more doubt that he had robbed me of my money. I concluded that he had in some manner learned that I had it before he left St. Louis, and had probably come on board of the boat to obtain it. He had shaved off his whiskers, and taken other precautions to avoid recognition.
"Go in there, Phil," said he, pointing to the state-room he had just left. "You and I have berthed together before, and we can do it again."
"I don't care about going on this voyage now, Mr. Waterford."
"Perhaps not; but you have shipped, and you are bound to go now."
"If you will let me off—"
"I have no time to talk now. Go in there. I shall know where to find you when I want you."
"I was only going to say—"
"In there," said he, savagely; and he made a demonstration towards me.