"
Truax here became so ill that his audience had to wait until he could
proceed. Then Jack asked:
"What sort of looking fellow is Gaynor?"
"He was the black-bearded man who shanghaied you in the white knockabout.
He doesn't usually wear a beard. He grew it for the occasion."
"So, acting for Tip Gaynor, you undertook to ruin us all and the good name
of our boats! You even met Dave Pollard and got him to take you on as a
machinist for our boats!"
"Tip knew a man who was willing to introduce me to Mr. Pollard."
"It was like kindly, unsuspicious Dave Pollard to be taken in by a rascal
like that," muttered Jack to himself.
Sam Truax added a few more details to his confession, then said:
"I couldn't die without telling you this, Benson. I hope you forgive me."
Before Jack Benson could reply Lieutenant Commander Mayhew stepped
forward.
"Truax, have you told us the exact truth?"
"I have."
"You thought it would be easy to get the better of a boy like Benson, I
suppose."
"Easy enough," admitted Sam. "So did Tip."
"You shot far below the mark in guessing at Benson's ingenuity and
brains," remarked Doctor McCrea, laughing.
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