Perhaps this was the use he intended to make of the rum from the first; but I must do him the justice to say that he had conscientiously used the first glass he had obtained upon my head, judging from the condition of my hair. It must have been a great temptation to him.
"Has the mate been here since he knocked me down?" I asked.
"No; he hasn't been near you. He has a bad temper—that man. But what's the matter with him, lad? Why is he down upon you?"
"It would be a long story, Jack; but I will tell you all about it some time."
"He says you stole his money."
"I did not steal his money."
"Nobody believes you did."
"I feel better now, and I will get up," I added, suiting the action to the word.
"Let's see your head, my lad."
The old sailor examined the bump on the side of my head, which was quite sore, but was nothing serious. The blow had stunned me, and left me with an aching head; but I had received harder knocks than this one, and I was not disposed to magnify its effects. Jack left me, and I had an opportunity to look into my trunk. The bag of gold was safe, as I had left it. I returned it to the hiding-place where I had first put it, deeming this more secure than my trunk. I hoped the breeze had blown over, and I went on deck. The motley crew treated me very kindly when I made my appearance, and expressed their sympathy with me. In fact, the instincts of a crew always lead them to take sides against the officer.