by Lethbridge.

"Take care how you go, Elphinstone," called the Colonel. "Remember that
the fellow has a revolver."

"Never fear," answered the baronet. "I will look after myself."

Dashing at the pilot-house door, Sir Reginald flung it open--to find
himself face to face with Barker, who was sitting composedly on the
bottom step of the ladder, smoking his pipe. He started to his feet in
horror and amazement at the sight of Sir Reginald.

"Well, darn my ugly--" He got no further in his exclamation; for, at the
sight of him, Sir Reginald's long pent-up anger broke loose, and
exclaiming--

"You despicable coward; you ungrateful scoundrel!" he struck out,
catching the man fairly under the jaw, and knocking him backward with a
staggering crash upon the metal steps of the pilot-house.

"Steady, Squire, steady!" mumbled the man in a tone of remonstrance.
"There's no call to knock me about, is there? And where in the nation
did--?"

"No call to knock you about, you blackguard!" thundered the furious
baronet. "If I were to break every bone in your body there would be
ample excuse for it. The attempted theft of the ship is nothing; it is
your brutality to my wife and child that--"

At this moment the inner door of the pilot-house slid open; for Lady
Olivia had been listening expectantly, and at the sound of her husband's
voice had thrown back the lever.

"Look here," continued Sir Reginald, restraining himself with
difficulty, as he pointed to the open door, "march you down there, and
go straight to your cabin, or I shall do you a mischief!"

"No, no, Squire; there's no call for that; no call at all," he mumbled
soothingly, as he sidled out of the pilot-house, keeping a wary eye upon
Sir Reginald, who followed him closely. "But, how in the nation did you
find this darned ship?" he persisted, his insatiable curiosity gripping
him hard as he proceeded along the corridor toward the cabin. "I made
sure that if I could run her out of sight of the island, and then shift
my helm, I should be all right. And so I should, if the darned engines
hadn't broken down!"

With a gesture Sir Reginald sped him through the door of the cabin that
he had occupied, and followed him in.

"Where is that revolver, with which you threatened my wife and
daughter?" demanded the baronet.

Barker drew it out of his pocket and handed it to Sir Reginald with the
nearest approach to a grin that his swollen and bleeding features would
per