“And I’ve made it my business, regular,” added Williamson, the machinist,
“to see that he doesn’t have his wish.”

“He’s always sulky, and kicking about everything,” added Eph. “I may be
wrong, but I can’t get it out of my head that the fellow came aboard on
purpose to be a trouble-maker.”

“Why, what object could he have in that?” asked Captain Jack.

“Blessed if I know,” replied Eph. “But that’s the way I size the fellow
up. Now, take that time you were knocked senseless, back in Dunhaven. Who
could have done that? The more I think about Sam Truax, the more I suspect
him as the fellow who stretched you out.”

“Again, what object could he have?” inquired Benson.

“Blessed if I know. What object could anyone have in such a trick against
you? It was a state prison job, if the fellow had been caught at the
time.”

“Well, there’s one thing Truax was innocent of, anyway,” laughed Captain
Jack. “He didn’t have any hand in the way I was tricked and robbed by the
mulatto.”

“Blamed if I’m so sure he didn’t have a hand in that, too,” contended Eph
Somers, stubbornly.

“Yet Mr. Pollard recommended him,” urged Jack.

“Yes, and a fine fellow Dave Pollard is—true as steel,” put in Hal