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〃What were the documents in your chest？〃
〃Most of what they had to show came from me： to be sure； Hopgood had got some letters and papers； written to himself of late years under the name of William Stanley； but all they had before the wreck of the Jefferson came from me。〃
〃Were there any books among the articles in your possession？〃
〃No； sir； nothing but the pocket…book。〃
〃Are you quite sure？ Was there not one book with William Stanley's name in it？〃
〃Not one； that 'ere book they had in court didn't come from me； how they got it I don't know；〃 replied Stebbins positively； who； it seemed； knew nothing of the volume of the Spectator。
〃Where did you next meet Hopgood？〃
〃Well； I was mad when I found he had got them papers； but the lawyer had left a message with my mother； saying if I came home； she was to tell me I'd hear something to my advantage by applying to him。 So I went after him to the place where he lives； and sure enough there was Hopgood； and he and Clapp as thick as can be together。 I guess they'd have liked it better if I had never showed myself again： but they got round me； and told me how it was all settled； and if I would only lend a hand； and keep quiet about Hopgood； and speak for them once in a while； they would enter into an agreement to give me enough to make a skipper of me at once。 Them 'ere lawyers they can make black look like whiteand so I agreed to it at last。〃
Hazlehurst strongly suspected that less persuasion had been necessary than the man wished him to believe。
〃Did they tell you all their plan？〃
〃Pretty much all； they said it was easy to make people believe Hopgood was William Stanley； for he looked so much like the young man； that he had been asked if that wasn't his name。 He said it was that first gave him the notion of passing off for William Stanleythat； and knowing all about the family； and the young man himself。 He said Stanley had no near relations who would be likely to remember him； there was only one old gentleman they was afraid of； but they calculated they knew enough to puzzle him too。 Hopgood had been practising after Stanley's handwriting； he was pretty good at that trade when he was a shaver；〃 said Stebbins； with a look which showed he knew the story of the forgery。 〃He was bred a lawyer； and them 'ere lawyers are good at all sorts of tricks。 Clapp and him had made out a story from my papers and what they know'd before； and got it all ready in a letter； they agreed that from the time of the wreck； they had better keep pretty straight to Hopgood's real life； and so they did。〃
〃They seem to have laid all their plans before you。〃
〃Well； they couldn't help it； for they wanted me to tell them all I heard from my brother； but I told 'em to speak first。 They made out that Hopgood had a right to the property； for they said that old Mr。 Stanley had no family to leave it to； that you was a stranger； and that Hopgood was a relation。〃
〃This Hopgood； who first helped to corrupt William Stanley； even if he had actually been a near relation； would have been the last human being to whom Mr。 Stanley would have left his property；〃 said Harry； coolly。 〃But go on with your story； why did they not show the pocket…book before the trial？〃
〃They settled it so； because they thought it would look better before the jury。〃
〃Why did you change your own mind so soon after the trial？ You should have come to me before。〃
〃Hopgood and I had a quarrel only three days ago； when he was drunk； he swore they could have done without me； and I swore I'd be revenged。 Then that fellow； Clapp； wouldn't pay me on the spot according to agreement； as soon as they had gained the cause。 I had kept my part； and he hadn't lifted a finger yet for me； nor he wouldn't if he could help it； for all he had given me his word。 I know him from more than one thing that came out； he is one of your fellows who sham gentlemen； with a fine coat to his back； but I wouldn't trust him with a sixpence out of sight； no； nor out of arm's length；〃 and Stebbins went on； swearing roundly at Clapp and Hopgood； until Harry interrupted him。
〃I know them 'ere lawyers； they think they can cheat Jack any day； but I won't trust him an hour longer！ I know your real gentleman from your tricky sham at a minute's warning； though their coats be both cut off the same piece of broadcloth。 I haven't served under Uncle Sam's officers for nothing。 Now I'll trust you； Mr。 Hazlehurst； as long as it suits you； I'd no more have talked to Clapp without having his name down in black and white； as I have to you； than I'd be shot。〃
〃The agreement I have made shall be strictly kept；〃 replied Harry； coldly。 〃Had you come to me before the trial； you would have had the same reward； without the crime of perjury。〃
〃Well； that 'ere perjury made me feel uncomfortable； and what with having sworn vengeance on Clapp and Hopgood； I made up my mind to go straight back to Philadelphy； and turn state's evidence。 I was waiting for a chance to get to New York when I saw you on the wharf at Nantucket； and I knew you in a minute。〃
The conversation was here interrupted by a call from the beach； which attracted Harry's attention； after having been so much engrossed during the disclosures of Stebbins； as to be quite regardless of what was going on about him。 It was de Vaux who had calledhe now approached。
〃I couldn't think where that fellow； Stebbins； had got to； if you have nothing for him to do here； Hazlehurst； he is wanted yonder。〃
Harry and the sailor accordingly parted。 After exchanging a few words to conclude their agreement； they both returned to the beach。
The Petrel seemed to be getting under way again； Smith and de Vaux； who had just returned from the wood with their guns； and Charlie； who had just left his sketching apparels； were standing together looking on when Harry joined them。
〃I didn't know what had become of you；〃 said Charlie。 〃What a long yarn that fellow seemed to be telling you！〃
〃It was well worth hearing；〃 said Harry； with a significant look at his friend。
〃Really？ I had some hope it might prove so from the man's look；〃 added Charlie； comprehending at once the drift of the conversation； though he had little idea of its complete success in unravelling the plot
〃You shall hear it before long；〃 added Harry。
〃When you please； in the mean time I wish you joy of any good news！〃
〃But what are you about here； de Vaux？ I thought we were to remain on the island till sun…set。〃
〃So we shall； but it seems that fellow； Black Bob； has forgot the vegetables I ordered him to bring from Nantucket； we have discovered a house with something like a garden on the opposite point； and I am going to send Bob with the boy Sam on a foraging expedition； I dare say they will find potatoes and onions at least。 That is the spot； do you see the apple…trees？ With the glass I saw a woman moving about； and milk…pans drying in the sun。〃
〃Why don't you send the boat？〃
〃Stryker hasn't come back yet； and there is wind enough to carry the Petrel over and back again in half an hour。〃
〃Smith and I are going as commanding officers； and you will have a much better dinner for our exertions； no doubt；〃 said Charlie。
〃Holloa； there； BobSam！tumble on board； mind you bring all the garden…stuff they can spare。 You Bob； see if you can pick up half you contrived to forget； sir； at Nantucket。 You deserve to be made to swim across for it；〃 said de Vaux。
〃Never could swim a stroke in my born days； sir；〃 muttered Black Bob。
〃There isn't much choice of sa'ace at Nantucket； anyway；〃 added the boy Sam。
｛〃sa'ace〃 = sauce； a slang term for vegetables｝
〃Here we go；〃 said Charlie； jumping lightly on board； followed by Smith。
〃It is possible you may find some melons； Hubbard； don't forget to ask for them；〃 said de Vaux。
〃Ay； ay； sir；〃 replied Charlie； nodding as the Petrel moved off。 The boy was steering； while Black Bob and the gentlemen tended the sails； and the little schooner glided gracefully on her way； with a light breeze； sufficiently favourable。
Harry went to take a look at Charlie's sketch； which he found just as the young artist had left itspirited and true to nature as usual； but only half…finished。 De Vaux looked into the chowder pot； where all seemed to be going on well。 He then joined Harry； and the young men continued walking together near the shanty； where preparations for dinner were going on under the charge of Stebbins and the acting steward of the cruise。
〃It is nearly time Stryker made his appearance with the fish；〃 said Harry。
〃If the sport is good； we shan't see him this hour yet；〃 replied de Vaux。 〃He will only come back in time to put the finishing stroke to the chowder。〃
〃If he waits too long he will have a shower；〃 observed Harry； pointing eastward； where dark clouds were beginning to appear above the wood。
〃Not under an hour I think；〃 said de Vaux。 〃He will take care of himself at any ratetrust to Stryker for that；〃 They turned to look at the Petrel。 Some ten or fifteen minutes had passed since she left the little wharf； and she was already near her destination； the point on which the farm…house stood being scarcely more than a mile distant； in a direct line； and a single tack having pro