possession of us, and made their search. It was a short business, for we satisfied them that Paolo suffered from no malignant disease, although one small and singularly objectionable fellow seemed suspicious of everything aboard us. I do not wonder that he made the men angry, or that Dan had a word with him.
"Look here, sir," he whispered, making pretence to great honesty; "I won't go for to deceive you—p'r'aps that dog's stuffed wi' di'monds."
"Do you reckon I'm a fool?" asked the man.
"Well," said old Dan, "I never was good at calcerlations; but you search that dog, and p'r'aps you'll find something
The man seemed to think a moment; but Dan looked so very solemn, and Belle came sniffing up at the officer's legs; so he passed his hand over her back, and lost some of his leg in return.
"Didn't I tell you," said Dan, "as you'd get something if you searched that dog?—well, don't you go for to doubt me word next time we're meetin'. Good-day to yer honour. Is there any other animal as I could oblige you with?"
The officer went off, the men howling with laughter; and a short while after we had made fast at the landing-stage, and were ready to go ashore.
Paolo still lay very sick in his cabin, and we determined in common charity to take no action until he had his health again; but we set the men
