like that,” muttered Jack to himself.

Sam Truax added a few more details to his confession, then said:

“I couldn’t die without telling you this, Benson. I hope you forgive me.”

Before Jack Benson could reply Lieutenant Commander Mayhew stepped
forward.

“Truax, have you told us the exact truth?”

“I have.”

“You thought it would be easy to get the better of a boy like Benson, I
suppose.”

“Easy enough,” admitted Sam. “So did Tip.”

“You shot far below the mark in guessing at Benson’s ingenuity and
brains,” remarked Doctor McCrea, laughing. “It was he who suggested this
way of inducing you to make this confession after you had refused to
answer the lieutenant commander’s questions.”

“What?” demanded Truax harshly.

“When I was first called in to you, you were not sick, only scared by the
remarks of others. After we got you in here, we dosed you with ipecac.
That started your stomach to moving up and down.”

“What? You poisoned me?”