ys, and on the dock walls at
London. But, somehow, this time it seemed different; he did not know
how it was, but these people seemed _more_ than friends, the ladies
especially; for them he felt that he entertained a regard as tender,
almost--or quite--as that which he felt for Eva, and this now made the
idea of parting so distasteful to him that, as his mind began to dwell
upon it, the feeling amounted almost to agony. And this, too, quite
apart from the sensation of indignant disgust with which he regarded
Williams' unscrupulous resolution to involve him and his fortunes with
the future career of the mutineers. But it should not be; he would
outwit the rascals somehow, and join the little party of passengers when
they were landed, even if he had to steal over the ship's side, drop
overboard, and swim ashore as the vessel sailed away.

Whilst cogitating thus, the returning daylight surprised him; and
shortly afterwards he heard a movement in the saloon which told him that
the gentlemen were about to make their appearance on deck to indulge in
the usual matutinal "tub."

He opened his state-room door and entered the saloon with a cheery
"Good-morning, gentlemen!"

"Good-morning, Mr Damerell," was the equally cheery reply; and then Mr
Gaunt, happening to notice the lad's worn and haggard appearance,
exclaimed:

"Why, good heavens, Ned, what is the matter? Are you ill?"

"Hush!" said Ned. "No, I am not ill, Mr Gaunt, but I am in great
trouble and perplexity. I have passed through a rather startling
experience during the night; and"--in a low tone of voice, so that the
ladies, if awake, might not hear him--"I have bad news to communicate.
Will you kindly step into my cabin for a moment?"

The two gentlemen passed into the state-room and seated themselves on
the sofa-locker, Ned following and closing the door after him.

"Now, Ned, what is it?" asked the engineer. "If I may judge from the
expression of your countenance the matter is serious; and, if so, out
with it at once. You need not be afraid of startling us, I fancy."

"You _will_ be startled, nevertheless, I expect," was the reply. "The
matter is simply this. The crew have seized the ship, and poor Captain
Blyth and Mr Manners are at this moment close prisoners in the deck-
house for'ard!"

The two gentlemen stared first at each other, and then at Ned, in the
utmost perplexity. For a moment or two they were both so completely
astounded that neith