He stole eleven golden sovereigns,
and a gold pocket chronometer and chain. I am really in doubt whether
the crime should not be entered under the category of sacrilege rather
than theft. Those things belonged to the captain! There was certainly
something in the nature of the violation of a sanctuary, and of a
particularly impudent kind, too, because he got his plunder out of the
captain's state-room while the captain was asleep there. But look, now,
at the fantasy of the man! After going through the pockets of the
clothes, he did not hasten to retreat. No. He went deliberately into
the saloon and removed from the sideboard two big heavy, silver-plated
lamps, which he carried to the fore-end of the ship and stood
symmetrically on the knight-heads. This, I must explain, means that he
took them away as far as possible from the place where they belonged.
These were the deeds of darkness. In the morning the bo'sun came along
dragging after him a hose to wash the foc'sle head, and, beholding the
shiny cabin lamps, resplendent in the morning light, one on each side of
the bowsprit, he was paralysed with awe.
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