CHAPTER XII
THE INVESTIGATION
Nat hardly knew what to make of the strange turn of events. It hadhappened so suddenly that he had no time to prepare himself. He waspositive Sam had dropped the cigarettes into his pocket, but to proveit was another matter. He knew the mate would take the side of hisnephew, while Nat had no one to stand up for him.
"Unless Mr. Weatherby does," he said to himself. "I guess I'll tellhim about it."
"You leave it to me," said the pilot, when Nat had related his story."I think we can easily prove that Sam Shaw is guilty. Don't worry.I'll stand by you."
Nat felt better after this, and went about his duties with a lighterheart. Nevertheless, he could not help being anxious when he receiveda message telling him to report to Captain Marshall's cabin.
"If you need any witnesses call on me," said the purser, as the boywent aft. "I saw Sam smoking before you joined him, and I'll testifyto that effect."
"Thank you," said Nat. "I may need you. He tried to play a mean trickon me."
In the cabin Nat found assembled Mr. Bumstead and Sam Shaw, besidesthe commander of the ship, who, looking very stern, sat in a big chairbehind the table.
"I wonder where Mr. Weatherby is?" thought Nat. "He said he'd stand byme. I hope he comes."
"There's no need to state the reasons why we are here," began thecaptain. "I'm determined to get at the bottom of this smokingbusiness, and put a stop to it. Does your nephew smoke?" he asked,turning to the mate.
"I--er--I think he used to, but he told me he had given it up, I thinkhe has. Haven't you, Sam?"
"Yes, Uncle Joe; but when Nat offered me one a while ago, I took itbefore I thought of what I was doing. I forgot I had promised you Iwouldn't smoke any more."
"I never gave him a cigarette!" burst out Nat.
"That will do!" exclaimed the captain. "You'll have your chancelater."
He placed the box he had taken from Nat's pocket on the table in frontof him.
"Did you ever see that box before?" he asked of the mate. "Did youever see your nephew have it?"
"No, sir."
"Is that your box of cigarettes?" the captain asked Sam.
"No, sir; it belongs to Nat," which was the truth, as far as it went,since Sam had mentally made Nat a present of it.
"So it's yours, then?" turning to Nat.
"No, sir, it is not!"
"Who is telling the truth here?" asked the puzzled captain.
"I am!" declared Sam quickly.
"You are not!" cried Nat. "I never owned that box."
"I found it in your pocket," declared the commander.
"Because he put it there."
"I have already said I don't take any stock in that story. What objectwould he have in doing that?"
"I don't know, but he did it."
"I'm sure my nephew would not do such a thing," said the mate. "I knowNat smokes, for I have seen him smoking about the dock when we hadoccasion to tie up there."
"I used to," admitted our hero, "but I gave it up. If you will callMr. Dunn," went on Nat desperately, "I think he could give someevidence."
"What kind?" asked the captain sneeringly. "Did you make up some forhim?"
"No, sir, but he says he saw Sam smoking before I passed him there onthe deck, and warned him it was against the rules."
"Hum! Well, I suppose I'll have to send for him," which the captaindid.
Mr. Dunn told how he had seen Sam smoking before Nat had occasion togo to that part of the deck where the mate's nephew was.
"Are you sure of this?" asked the mate sternly, before CaptainMarshall had a chance to question Mr. Dunn. "Remember you areblackening a boy's character by what you say."
Now, unfortunately for Nat, it so happened that Mr. Dunn had what istermed a very "short" memory. He could recall matters distinctly foronly a short time after they occurred, unless he made a note of them.That he had not done in this case. The mate saw his advantage, as thepurser hesitated, and he pursued it.
"Wasn't it _after_ you sent Nat to that part of the deck that you sawSam smoking?" he asked. "Wasn't it _after_ that?"
Mr. Dunn tried to recollect. His faulty memory went back on him, hehesitated and stammered, he became confused, and the outcome was hehad to admit that he might have seen Sam smoking after Nat had methim. The result was he did Nat's cause more harm than good.
"Well, I hope you're satisfied with your witness," remarked thecaptain dryly. "I don't see that you've proved anything, whereas thebox of cigarettes is very damaging evidence against you."
Nat questioned Mr. Dunn, seeking to have him recall exactly what hadtaken place, but the purser, much as he wanted to help his assistant,failed dismally.
"I am compelled to say I believe you gave Sam the cigarette," went onCaptain Marshall, "and, much as I regret it, for I think you are ahard-working lad, I shall have to discharge you. You broke a verystrict rule of the ship, one on account of which we might, in case offire, lose all our insurance. It is too flagrant to pass over."
"Then you believe him instead of me?" asked Nat faintly.
"I must say that I do."
"But I never had those cigarettes."
"The evidence is against you. What object would Sam have in puttingthem into your pocket? That is a question you cannot answersatisfactorily."
"I believe he wanted to injure me because I got this place that hisuncle wanted for him."
"Nonsense! I have a better place in view for my nephew," said themate. "He will take it as soon as this voyage for his health isended."
"As for traveling for his health, I wouldn't advise him to smoke anymore cigarettes," remarked the captain dryly, "no matter who givesthem to him."
"I'll not," promised Sam eagerly, congratulating himself on thesuccess of his plot.
"No, I'll see that he does not," added his uncle.
Poor Nat did not know what to do or say. Mr. Dunn had slipped out ofthe cabin. The purser was sorry for what had happened, and most of allhe regretted his inability to help Nat, for though he could nottestify to it in a way to carry conviction, he was sure in his ownmind of what had happened.
"Why doesn't Mr. Weatherby come?" thought Nat.
"You will be relieved of your duties in the purser's office," went onCaptain Marshall. "Mr. Bumstead, will you, as a favor to me, allowyour nephew to help Mr. Dunn for the remainder of the voyage?"
"Yes, sir. I think he will be glad to do it. Will you not, Sam?"
"Certainly," was the answer, and the red-haired youth did not try toconceal the satisfaction he felt.
"Then you may consider yourself discharged," said the commander toNat. "I will put you ashore at the next port."
"What's that?" exclaimed a voice, and those in the cabin looked up tosee Mr. Weatherby standing in the doorway. "Nat discharged! What's itall about? I tried to get here sooner, but I had to make up somerecords, and they took longer than I calculated. Is the investigationall over, captain?"
"It is, and I am sorry to say I had to decide against Nat. I believehe had the cigarettes and gave Sam some to smoke in that part of theship where they are forbidden. I don't know that he smoked himself,but he might as well have done so as to induce another."
"I don't believe Nat did anything of the kind," said the pilot.
"I'm sorry I can't agree with you," responded the commander. "I haverelieved him from his duties and put Sam temporarily in his place. Heleaves the ship at the next port."
"He does, eh?" said Mr. Weatherby. "Then all I've got to say is thatif he goes, I go too!"