“Then what?”

“Why, with the blessing of God, they’ll both go to hell together, and I don’t care how soon.”

“Kill me, you old villain!” muttered Vanslyperken, grinding his teeth.

“Well, anyhow, if the dog be not made away with, no more be Smallbones.  He ar’n’t afeard of the devil himself.”

“No, not he; I’m of opinion Smallbones wa’n’t sent here for nothing.”

“He’s escaped him twice, at all events.”

“Then they know it,” thought Vanslyperken, turning pale.

“Ay, and I will take you any bet you please, that the skipper never takes that boy’s life.  He’s charmed, or I am a gudgeon.”

Vanslyperken felt that it was his own suspicion, and he trembled at the idea of the lad being supernatural.

“Out of the way, Coble, or I’ll fill your shoes,” cried out one of the men, slashing a bucket of water.

“That’s not quite so easy, ’cause I’ve got boots on,” replied Coble.  “However, I’ll take up another berth.”

The men walked away, and Vanslyperken could hear no more; but he had heard quite enough.  The life of the dog had been attempted by Smallbones, it was evident.  Mr Vanslyperken, after a little agitation, rang the bell.

“By all that’s blue, the skipper’s on board!” exclaimed the men on deck.

“When the devil did he come?”

“Not in my watch, at all events,” replied Coble.  “Did he come in yours, Short?”

“No,” replied Short.

“Then it must have been in the corporal’s.”

“The corporal never called me, nor was he ’on deck,” replied Coble.  “I’ve a notion he never kept his watch.”

The ring at the bell particularly concerned two people, the two culprits, Smallbones and Corporal Van Spitter.

The latter made his appearance; but previous to his answering the bell, Mr Vanslyperken had time to reflect.  “So they think my dog is supernatural,” said he; “so much the better.  I’ll make them believe it still more.”  Mr Vanslyperken called the dog, and pointed to his bed.  The dog, who was fond of a warm berth, and but seldom allowed to get on the bed, immediately jumped up into it when invited, and Mr Vanslyperken patted him, and covered him up with the bedclothes.  He then drew the curtains of the bed, and waited to see who would answer the bell.  Corporal Van Spitter made his appearance.

“Corporal, I came on board very late, where have you put the dog?  Bring him into the cabin.”

Here the corporal, who was prepared, shook his head, smoothed down the hair of his forehead, and made a very melancholy face.

“It was all my fault, Mynheer Vanslyperken; yet I do for the best, but de tog be lost.”

“How is that, corporal?”

The corporal then stated that he had taken the precaution to take the dog on shore, as he was afraid to leave it on board when he went to the washerwoman’s, and that he was not long there, but while he was, the dog disappeared.  He had looked everywhere, but could not find it.