So saying, Mr Vanslyperken, with Snarleyyow at his heels, went down into the cabin--undressed in the dark, for he would not let any one know that he was on board. It being about three o'clock in the morning, and Mr Vanslyperken being well tired with the events of the day, he was soon in a sound sleep. There will be no difficulty in accounting for the return of the dog, which had a skull much thicker than even the corporal's. He had been stunned with the heavy blows, but not killed. After a certain time he came to himself in his bed of leaves, first scratched with one paw, and then with another, till his senses returned: he rose, worked his way out, and lay down to sleep. After he had taken a long nap, he rose recovered, shook himself, and trotted down to the beach, but the boat had shoved off, and the cur had remained there waiting for an opportunity to get on board, when his master came down with the same object in view. But as every soul is fast asleep, we shall now finish the chapter. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. LISTENERS NEVER HEAR ANY GOOD OF THEMSELVES. Vanslyperken was awakened three hours after he had fallen asleep by the noise of the buckets washing the decks. He heard the men talking on deck, and aware that no one knew that he was on board, he rose from his bed, and opened one of the sliding sashes of the skylight, that he might overhear the conversation. The first words he heard were from Bill Spurey. "I say, Coble, I wonder what the skipper will say when he comes on board, and finds that the dog is gone?" "Hoh! hoh!" thought Vanslyperken. "I ar'n't convinced that he is gone yet," replied Coble. "Smallbones swears that he's settled this time," replied Spurey. "So he did before," replied Coble. "Smallbones again," thought Vanslyperken. "I'll--Smallbones him, if I hang for it." "Why, he says he buried him two feet deep." "Ay, ay; but what's the use of burying an animal who's not a human creature? For my part I say this, that the imp belongs to his master, and is bound to serve him as long as his master lives. When he dies, the dog may be killed, and then--" "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, any how, 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.