Chalk's, and moving to the
side leaned over it with his shoulders hunched. Somewhat moved by this
display of feeling, Mr. Chalk for some time hesitated to disturb him, and
when at last he did steal up and lay a friendly hand on the captain's
shoulder it was gently shaken off.
"Secrets!" said Brisket, in a hollow voice. "From me! I ain't to be
trusted?"
"It isn't my doing," said Mr. Chalk.
"Well, well, it don't matter, sir," said the captain. "Bill Brisket must
put up with it. It's the first time in his life he's been suspected, and
it's doubly hard coming from you. You've hurt me, sir, and there's no
other man living could do that."
Mr. Chalk stood by in sorrowful perplexity.
"And I put my life in your hands," continued the captain, with a low,
hard laugh. "You're the only man in the world that knows who killed
Smiling Peter in San Francisco, and I told you. Well, well!"
"But you did it in self-defence," said the other, eagerly.
"What does that matter?" said the captain, turning and walking forward,
followed by the anxious Mr. Chalk. "I've got no proof of it. Open your
mouth--once--and I swing for it. That's the extent of my trust in you.
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