"Who is a thief, Smutje?'
"Not you," he replied, "because you are working up there. But did
you see anybody take my flapjacks?"
"No, I haven't been looking that way, Smutje."
I slid down to talk with him, still amazed at the phenomenon of
encountering fresh, hot--very hot--flapjacks on the high seas.
"What was that you were talking about, Smutje? Flapjacks, how can
that be?"
"I will tell you, Phelax. You are the only honest fellow aboard."
"I know that, but go ahead."
"It is the captain's birthday to-day, Phelax. Nobody aboard can make
him a present except me. I fixed fourteen flapjacks for him. Is
that too much for the captain's birthday?"
"No, Smutje, it is not too much."
"And a delicious cranberry jelly to go with them."
"Cranberry jelly, Smutje?"
"Yes; a fine cranberry compote. Now, by Joe, Phelax, you know I am a
good fellow. I would say nothing if some son-of-a-gun stole one
flapjack, but, by Joe, I say the one who took the whole fourteen is a
son-of-a-gun, by Joe."
"I agree with your opinion, Smutje, he is a son-of-a-gun, by Joe."
"You are an honest fellow, Phelax, and I always give you the best.
That cranberry compote is no use to me now, anyway. You can eat it
because you are honest and because you will help me to find the
thief."
The compote was just what I needed, what I had missed. It should
have been spread between the pancakes, but still it was going to the
same place.
"How can I catch the thief, Smutje?"
"Watch to-night, and see who eats the least peas."
"All right, Smutje, I will watch."
"Be sure to catch him, Phelax, and now, because you are honest, here
is the cranberry compote."
It was delicious.
That night I reported to Smutje that each of the other men had eaten
approximately an equal amount of peas. It was not part of the
bargain to report that I had scarcely eaten any. I promised to
continue the hunt for the culprit, and Smutje was confirmed in his
opinion that I was the only honest man aboard.
The _Cæsarea_ docked in Melbourne, and there an important event
occurred. The captain invited the German consul to dinner, and then
took counsel with Smutje.
"We must have something good when the consul comes."
Smutje immediately fell in with the suggestion and replied: "Yes, on
such an occasion nothing is too good."
The captain restrained his enthusiasm.
"But there must not be too much expense."
"No, certainly not. Let us have ducks. That is something good and
does not cost much around here."