The conversation continuing, we gradually drew from Radley, that he had played with Bell for all the ready money which he possessed on leaving Jamaica, and lost it; that then he had played for a good set of mathematical instruments, and lost them; that then he had played for all his clothes, and lost them; and, although for some time his shipmates had supplied him, that he had lost in succession every article of clothing so given to him, in the same way; and that, finally, he had played for and lost his chances of prize-money during the whole cruize. All this the poor fellow told with great reluctance, seeming to consider such disclosures as a breach of honour; but on John Clink saying that, in his belief, Bell had been a common sharper in London, and had bubbled poor Radley out of his property, Simon grew very indignant, and swore that, if it were so, he would have Bell’s blood. However, we pacified him, and made him understand that before making any charge, we must have better proof. George Bell at this time being below, and in his hammock, I called up a number of the crew in succession, all of whom said that they had played with Bell, and that they had never won anything; that if, now and then, a cast of the dice was in their favour, yet that they always rose the losers. Some of these men had had their suspicions of Bell’s play, but as they had never compared notes, they were not aware, until I questioned them, how very similar all their cases were. They knew, indeed, that Simon Radley had been stripped, but they were loath to accuse a shipmate of foul play. ‘Why, then,’ quoth John Clink, ‘that fellow, Bell, must own about half the property in the ship, if your tales be all true. This must be looked into.’ ‘With whose dice do you play?’ says I: and they all answered, that generally it was with Bell’s for that several men who had brought dice on board had lost them, they knew not how, but Bell had several sets. This information increased our suspicions very much, and desiring all hands to keep the matter to themselves, and by no means to give a hint to Bell that he was suspected, I informed Captain Jem of the whole affair. ‘The snivelling, cur-hearted miscreant!’ quoth honest Captain Jem, his plump red cheeks glowing with indignation. ‘I never saw anything good in that fellow since he came on board. He is a pitiful skulk, and never stirs out of his hammock except when he is driven. It was he who counselled us to strike to the Spanish frigate, but if we find him out in his roguish tricks his back shall so smart for it, as shall cause him to think that his spine be stuffed full of pepper instead of marrow.’