e don't happen to fall in with any of your precious
men-o'-war, what then?" he demanded.

"Why," said I, "it will merely mean that your punishment will be
deferred a few days longer until we arrive at Capetown; that is all."

"Ah!" he retorted, drawing in his breath sharply. "But supposing you
should happen to go overboard quietly some dark night--"

"Like poor Mowbray, for instance," I cut in.

"Mowbray," he hissed, turning deathly white. "Mowbray! Who has been
talking to you about Mowbray? Tell me, and I'll cut his lying tongue
out of his mouth!"

"Brave words," I said, "very brave words, but they would not frighten
the individual who told me the history of poor Mr Mowbray's mysterious
disappearance through the stern window."

"Tell me who it was, and what he said?" he demanded hoarsely.

"No," I answered him. "I will reserve that story for other ears than
yours."

"Very well," he said. "Then I promise you that you shall not live to
tell that story." And turning to one of the men who were standing by,
he said:

"Cast this young cockerel loose, take him down to his cabin, lock him
in, and bring the key to me."

And two minutes later I found myself below in a very comfortable cabin
that had been cleared out and prepared for me, locked in, and with no
company but my own rather disagreeable thoughts.

CHAPTER SIX.

STRANDED!

What were Williams's ultimate intentions toward me I found it quite
impossible to guess, for, beyond the fact that he kept me carefully
locked up in the cabin that he had assigned to me, I suffered no further
violence at his hands, a steward bringing me an ample supply of food
when the meal hours came round. I tried to ascertain from this fellow
how my men were faring in the forecastle; but my attempt to question him
caused him so much distress and terror that, at his earnest request, I
forebore to press my enquiries. And as soon as the man had taken away
the empty plates and dishes that had contained my dinner, I stretched
myself out on the very inviting-looking bed that had been made up in the
bunk, and, being exceedingly tired, soon fell asleep. I slept all
night, and did not awake until the steward entered next morning with my
breakfast.

I rather expected that, after a night's calm consideration of his
exploit, Williams would have come to the conclusion that discretion was
the better part of valour, and would have taken some steps toward the
patching up of a truc