"See here, I want to talk to you," he cried uglily. "Has Si Doring been telling you any yarns about me?" [Illustration: "SEE HERE, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU."] "You let go of me," was Paul's only answer. "I don't want anything to do with you." "Answer my question." "I haven't got to." And now Paul did his best to get away. He had just twisted himself loose when Jim Haskett struck him a cruel blow on the head. "You--you brute!" gasped the boy, as the tears came. He was about to try retreating again, when Haskett caught him once more. "Now answer me, or I'll thrash the life out of you," he hissed into Paul's ear. "And mind you tell the truth." "He said that he had a--a--" the boy broke off short. "I won't tell you, there! Now let go!" And he began to squirm. "I know what he said," blustered Haskett. "Said he had had a ten-dollar gold piece in his valise, didn't he?" "Ye-es." "And he accused me of taking it, eh?" "He didn't say so outright. He said you had been where you could get at the bag." "It amounts to the same thing. As a matter of fact I couldn't get at the bag any more than could you, or Russell, or Walton, or any of the others." "I suppose that is so. Now let me go." "I will in a minute, but I want to tell you something, for it's not nice to have folks taking you to be a thief," went on Haskett, tactfully. "I haven't said anything about the affair." "Perhaps not, Paul, but Doring talks, and I reckon so do Russell and Walton. During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow aboard the _Brooklyn_ looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there won't be a soul speak to me after a while." "I shan't say a word--I'll promise you." "It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a word." "I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble. "Caution Russell! Not for the world. See here, I'll tell you something, and you can tell Doring or not, just as you please. To the best of my knowledge Russell is the thief." "Walter!" ejaculated Paul. "Oh, no, you must be mistaken. Why, why--how could he get at the satchel? He was with Doring." "I don't know about that. But I'm almost positive Russell is guilty." "Have you any proof? You shouldn't say such a thing unless you have," retorted Paul, anxious to stick up for Walter, who had served him several good turns since they had become acquainted. "I've got more proof against Russell than Doring has against me," answered Jim Haskett, boldly. "And what is more, I can prove what I've got to say." "But what have you to say?" came in a cold, heavy voice behind Haskett, and turning swiftly the former mate of the _Sunflower_ found himself confronted by Caleb Walton. The old gunner's face looked stern and angry.