30 



THE FATTED CALF. 



ently ; and also how I stole the cabin molasses 

 keg while we were at Talcuhano, and sold the 

 molasses in ^putyaree on shore, upon agreement 

 that the empty keg must be brought aboard next 

 evening. But the ship sailed in the morning and 

 both keg and molasses were left behind. Think 

 of the fix that put me in ! Presently the steward 

 wanted some molasses for the " doctor " to cook 

 with, — but where in the name of the Great 

 Horned Spoon was that precious molasses keg ? 

 Of course I knew nothing about it — absolutely 

 nothing — vastly less than nothing ! The men 

 searched everywhere, and the further they searched 

 the madder they got. They swore like great 

 whales. But that was not the worst of it. My con- 

 science swore, too. The thought of lying galled 

 me and cut me, till at last I went to the old man 

 and confessed my crime. That made me feel a 

 whole lot better, but it made the old man feel a 

 whole lot worse ! " Blast you, boy, I'll get even 

 with you! You just waltz forward and tell the 

 cooper I say to give you a dozen barrel-staves. 

 I'm going to learn you a lesson that'll last you 

 way over into the next world ! " When I came 

 back with the barrel-staves, the old man stationed 

 me in the waist, where everybody on board could 

 watch me, and said, " Now, sonnywax, you take 



