"Half the _Dayspring_ is mine," admitted Jack, sulkily; "but I'm not going to tell you where I got the money to buy her." "I'll put in an ecthecuthion, I will. I'll levy it mythelf on board the ship." "If you do that, Captain Jacob will sling you overboard." "I'll take a conthtable with me. I will have my money," screeched the irate Shylock. "Now, come along, please; we must get this warrant," said Slade, taking the arm of Mr. Moss, and pulling him out of the room. Left alone with Johnson and Chard, the sailor made no attempt to leave. He sat down with a sulky expression on his face, and betrayed not the least concern. It would seem that he was not fully alive to the danger of his position. Chard looked at him with bland satisfaction. "You had better make a clean breast of it, my man," said he. Jack scowled at him, and rudely turned his chair so as to face the minister. "Mr. Johnson," he said quietly, "you are an honest man amongst these land sharks, and I can trust you. I seem to be in a tight place, but I swear that I am as innocent as an unborn babe. Shackel can prove my innocence; so I ask you to take a note to him from me." Johnson, who had no love for Shackel after the way in which the little scoundrel had tried to blackmail him, would have refused; but Chard, at Finland's back, made a sign to him to accept the trust. The inspector thought that Jack was about to write to Shackel, asking him to destroy some evidence which might implicate him still further in the crime. At all events, he thought the letter would probably prove of some value, directly or indirectly. He was glad, therefore, when Johnson, understanding his signal, acceded to Finland's request. "Certainly, I will deliver your note," said the minister, gravely. "I only hope you will be able to free yourself from this critical position." "Do you believe I killed Tera?" "If you sold the pearls, it certainly looks very like it," replied Johnson, "seeing that they were taken from her dead body. Yet, as I know you loved the girl, and she was willing to give you both herself and her pearls, I confess that I have my doubts as to your guilt. Besides, I honestly admit that I do not think you are a bad man. Frivolous and godless and profligate no doubt you are, but far from being a murderer. No, Mr. Finland, black as are appearances against you, I cannot bring myself to believe in your guilt." Jack looked at the minister with a friendly smile, and stretched out a large brown hand. "You're a white man," said he, coolly; "I'll take more stock in your piety when I'm out of this fix. Shake." The minister hesitated, for although he really did believe in the young sailor's innocence, yet the man had been his rival, and he found it difficult to be on easy terms with him. However, his better nature prevailed, and he shook hands.