“You give it to ’er an’ told ’er to buy the baby a bun with it,” continued the veracious Mr. Pilchard. “Told ’er to buy the baby a bun with it?” repeated Mr. Dodds in a dazed voice. “Told ’er to—— Wot did you let me do it for? Wot was all you chaps standin’ by an’ doin’ to let me go an’ do it for?” “We did _arsk_ you not to,” said Steve, joining in the conversation. Mr. Dodds finding language utterly useless to express his burning thoughts, sat down and madly smashed at the table with his fists. “Wot was you a-doin’ to let me do it?” he demanded at length of the boy. “You ungrateful little toad. You can give me that ’arf-suvrin back, d’ye hear?” “I can’t,” said the boy. “I followed your example, and give it to the red-’aired woman to buy the baby another bun with.” There was a buzzing noise in Mr. Dodds’ head, and the bunks and their grinning occupants went round and round. “’Ere, ’old up, Sam,” said Pilchard, shaking him in alarm. “It’s all right; don’t be a fool. I’ve got the money.” Sam stared at him blankly. “I’ve got the money,” repeated the seaman. Mr. Dodds’ colour came back. “How’d you get it?” he inquired. “I took it out of your pocket last night just to give you a lesson,” said Harry severely. “Don’t you never be so silly agin, Sam.” “Gimme my money,” said Mr. Dodds, glaring at him. “You might ha’ lorst it, you see, Sam,” continued his benefactor; “if I could take it, anybody else could. Let this be a lesson to you.” “If you don’t grimme my money——” began Sam violently. “It’s no good trying to do ’im a kindness,” said Harry to the others as he turned to his bunk. “He can go an’ lose it for all I care.” He put his hand in his bunk, and then with a sudden exclamation searched somewhat hastily amongst the bedding. Mr. Dodds, watching him with a scowl, saw him take every article separately out of his bunk, and then sink down appalled on the locker. “You’ve took it, Sam—ain’t—you?” he gasped. “Look ’ere,” said Mr. Dodds, with ominous quietness, “when you’ve done your little game.” “It’s gone,” said Harry in a scared voice; “somebody’s taken it.” “Look ’ere, ’Arry, give ’im his money,” said Steve impatiently; “a joke’s a joke, but we don’t want too much of it.” “I ain’t got it,” said Harry, trembling. “Sure as I stand ’ere it’s gone. I took it out of your pocket, and put it under my piller. You saw me, didn’t you, Steve?” “Yes, and I told you not to,” said Steve. “Let this be a warning to you not to try and teach lessons to people wot don’t want ’em.” “I’m going to the police-station to give ’im in charge,” said Mr. Dodds fiercely; “that’s wot I’m goin’ to do.” “For the Lord’s sake don’t do that, Sam,” said Pilchard, clutching him by the coat. “’Arry ain’t made away with it, Sam,” said Steve. “I saw somebody take it out of his bunk while he was asleep.” “Why didn’t you stop him?” cried Harry, starting up. “I didn’t like to interfere,” said Steve simply; “but I saw where he went to.”