This was nothing more nor less than a big spot of glue on the lad's coat sleeve.
"What's this ?" asked the seaman, pointing to the sticky place.
"I don't know.

Glue--I guess," replied Bob, turning pale.
"Glue, eh?
Seems to be about as sticky as that on the minister's chair." At the mention of glue several persons about Bob and the captain looked curiously at them.

Mrs.Henderson, who was just then passing, carrying a big platter of baked beans, stopped to listen to what the seaman was saying.
"Yes, it's glue," remarked the mariner.

"Just like that on the chair.

Bob," he asked suddenly, "did you put that glue there ?" Now, with all his faults, Bob would never tell a lie.