“He had food that I didn’t have,” he whispered hoarsely.
“What!” cried Adoniram, shrinking back, his eyes abulge.
Caleb nodded slowly.
“There were four of us on that raft. Paulo Montez—he went first. We divided the food and water, an’ that villain Leroyd ate his all up. Then we had ter drive him behind his chest at the other end of the raft, an’ keep him there at the point of our pistols.
“Then the cap’n went, an’—an’—I had to throw him to the sharks to keep him out o’ the clutches o’ that cannibal Leroyd!”
“Great heavens!” exclaimed the ship owner, shrinking back into his chair, his face the picture of horrified amazement.
“Yes, sir,” whispered Caleb; “he dragged poor Paulo’s body back o’ that chest—an’—well, ’taint no use talkin’! I ain’t said a word about it before to any living creature. It’s only my word ag’in his, at best. But I swear, Adoniram, I’d kill the hound with as little compunction as I would a rat.
“He’s been sneaking ’round the hospital, inquiring about me, too,” continued the sailor. “He’s got his eye on these papers, for he see Cap’n Horace give ’em to me. I reckon he don’t know what they’re about, but he suspects there’s money in it. He was ’round to the hospital only last night, so the doctor told me.
“And now, Adoniram, wot I want o’ you is to help me find this derelict before some o’ Uncle Sam’s blasted iron pots go out after her. We must get the boy down from that uncle’s place in Rhode Island——”
“Why, didn’t you see him this morning?” asked Mr. Pepper, in surprise.