him."

"Robbed?" repeated Maggie again, vaguely.

"Yes, robbed! Last night, afore we came home. He must hev got in
yer while we was comin' from the boat."

"Did, did that Leftenant say so?" stammered Maggie.

"Say it, of course he did! and so do I," continued Jim,
impatiently. "Why, there were my very clothes on his back, and he
daren't deny it. And if you'd hearkened to me jest now, instead of
flyin' off in tantrums, you'd see that THAT'S jest how we got him,
and how me and the Leftenant joined hands in it. I didn't give him
permission to hunt deserters, but THIEVES. I didn't help him to
ketch the man that deserted from HIM, but the skunk that took MY
clothes. For when the Leftenant found the man's old uniform in the
bush, he nat'rally kalkilated he must hev got some other duds near
by in some underhand way. Don't you see? eh? Why, look, Mag.
Darned if you ain't skeered after all! Who'd hev thought it?
There now--sit down, dear. Why, you're white ez a gull."

He had his arm round her as she sank back in the chair again with a
forced smile.

"There now," he said with fraternal superiority, "don't mind it,
Mag, any more. Why, it's all over now. You bet he won't trouble
us agin, for the Leftenant sez that now he's found out to be a
thief, they'll jest turn him over to the police, and he's sure o'
getten six months' state prison fer stealin' and burglarin' in our