“What boat was it?”

“De Harrison, from Brooklyn, bound to Cuba.”

“Did you ship on her after you left Putnam Hall in such a hurry?

“I did, cos I didn’t want de police to coted me.  But, say, as true as I stand heah —­ mean sit heah —­ I aint guilty of stealin’ dem watches an’ t’ings, no I aint!”

And Aleck raised both hands earnestly.  “Captain Putnam made a great mistake when he dun suspect me.”

“We know it,” answered Dick quietly.  “We thought you innocent all along, Aleck.”

“T’ank yo’ fo’ dat, Master Rober —­ I’se glad to see dat I’se got one friend —­”

“Three friends, Aleck —­ we all stood up for you,” interrupted Tom.

“T’ank yo’, t’ank yo’!”

“And we discovered who the real thief was,” added Sam.

“Wot, yo’ dun found, dat out!” burst out Pop.  “An’ who was de black-hearted rascal?”

“Jim Caven.”

“Dat cadet wot tried to be funny wid me an’ I had to show him his place?  Hol’ on —­ I dun see him comin’ from de attic one day.”

“When he must have put those stolen articles in your trunk,” said Tom.  “Yes, he was guilty, Captain Putnam was going to have him arrested, but he got away.”

Nothing would do for Alexander Pop after this but that the boys give him the full particulars of the affair, to which he listened with the closest attention.  But at the conclusion his face fell.

“Ise mighty glad I am cleared,” he said.  “But I’d give a good deal to face de cap’n—­jest to see wot he would say, eh?”

“He said he was sorry he had suspected you,” said Dick.

“What a big fool dis darkey was to run away!” murmured Aleck meditatively.  “I wasn’t cut out fo’ no sailer man.  Ise been sick most ebery day since I left shoah.  By de way, whar is dis ship bound?” he went on.

“To Africa.”

“Africa!  Shuah yo’ is foolin’, Massah Dick?”

“No, I am not.  We and our uncle are bound for the Congo River.”

“De Congo!  Dat’s whar my great gran’ fadder dun come from —­ so I heard my mammy tell, years ago.  I don’t want to go dar, not me!”

“I don’t see how you are going to help yourself, Aleck.  The first stop this steamer will make will be at Boma on the Congo River.”

“’Wot am I to do when I gits dar? answer me dat, chile.”

“I’m sure I don’t know.  Perhaps the captain will let you remain on the Republique.”

“What wid dern Frenchmen?  I don’t t’ink I could stand dat.  An’ what am yo’ going to do in Africa?”

“We are going on a hunt for my father, who has been missing for years.”

Again Aleck had to be told the particulars and again he was tremendously interested.  When the boys had finished he sat in silence for several minutes.

“I’ve got it-jest de t’ing!” he cried suddenly.

“Got what?” asked Tom.

“De right idea, Massah Tom.  Foah gen’men like yo’ don’t want to go to Africa widout a valet nohow.  Let me be de workin’ man fe de crowd.  I’ll take de job, cheap, —­ an’ glad ob de chance.”