"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."
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.
"You took Smallbones with you?" said Vanslyperken.
"And where was he when you were at the washerwoman's."
"I know that it was he who killed and buried the dog, corporal."
Corporal Van Spitter started, he thought he was discovered.
"Kilt and perryed, mein Gott!" said the corporal, obliged to say something.
"Yes, I overheard the men say so on deck, corporal. He must have taken the opportunity when you were in the house counting the linen."
Now the corporal had time to recover himself, and he argued that anything was better than that he should be suspected. Smallbones was already known to have attempted the life of the dog, so he would leave the lieutenant in his error.
"Mein Gott' he is von d----d kill-dog feller," observed the corporal. "I look everywhere, I no find te tog. Den de dog is dead?"
"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "but I'll punish the scoundrel, depend upon it. That will do, corporal; you may go."
As Snarleyyow remained perfectly quiet during this conversation, we must give Vanslyperken great credit for his manoeuvre. The corporal went to Smallbones, and repeated what had passed. Smallbones snapped his fingers.
"He may keel-haul, or hang me, for all I care. The dog is dead. Never fear, corporal, I won't peach upon you. I'm game, and I'll die so--if so be I must."
Vanslyperken sent for Smallbones. Smallbones, who was worked up to the highest state of excitement, came in boldly.
"So, you villain, you've killed my dog, and buried it."
"No, I ar'n't," replied Smallbones. "I knows nothing about your dog, sir."
"Why, the men on deck said so, you scoundrel, I heard them."
"I don't care what the men say; I never killed your dog, sir."