Upon this hint the Admiral disappeared, and returned shortly with a very dirty pack of cards.
As we played, with varying fortunes, by the flickering flame of the lamp, he sipped his beer and became communicative.

He seemed immensely tickled by the fact that I had come to Boston.

It leaked out presently that he and the Captain had had a wager on the subject.
The discovery of my plans and who had discovered them were points on which the Admiral refused to throw any light.

They had been discovered, however, and the Captain had laughed at the idea of my running away.
Sailor Ben, on the contrary, had stoutly contended that I meant to slip cable and be off.

Whereupon the Captain offered to bet him a dollar that I wouldn't go.