THE LOST POCKET-BOOK. 89 



which are frightened to either side by the advance of the 

 vessel. They thus have a command over more water than 

 if they were pursuing a solitary course. 



" Port of Genoa, Sept. 1 9, Tuesday. — ' Murder will out.' 

 On the 11th of this month, when at sea, I missed my pocket- 

 book from a little shelf above my berth, where I usually 

 imprudently let it lie. It contained bills and money to a 

 considerable amount, besides letters, &c. I went through 

 the form of searching the trunks of every one on board, 

 not so much in the hope of finding it, as with an intention 

 to lull the fears of the real offender, so that I might 

 secure him with it about his person on some future day. 

 Our search was vain ; not a trace of bill or bank-note to 

 be found : the pocket-book had fled for ever, ' and left me 

 on the eaith disconsolate.' I then stuck up an advertise- 

 ment, offering a reward of five guineas to any one who 

 should recover, or lead to the recovery, of the stolen goods ; 

 but to no effect. My suspicion was naturally turned upon 

 two of our crew ; first, the steward, a mulatto, always 

 in the cabin, and probably aware of my hiding-place ; 

 secondly, one of the sailors called Williams, by birth a 

 Dane, who was almost the only one of the sailors ever in 

 the cabin, where he had been regularly employed twice-a- 

 week in scrubbing out the floor. His character seemed 

 that of a careless buffoon, always joking and singing, and 

 seldom making his appearance on deck without exclaim- 



