t I
represent the Russian Government, and, if you attempt anything against
my safety, I shall place myself in the hands of the commander of the
cruiser you can see over there. You must surely see that the game is
hopeless, and that further resistance would be as foolish as it would
be futile."

"Well, if anybody had told me----" Browne heard Jimmy remark; then
MacAndrew struck in:--

"I think I take in the position," he said. "I have met with a similar
case once before. Perhaps you would not mind leaving it in my hands,
Mr. Browne?"

"What do you mean to do?" inquired Browne.

"I will very soon show you," replied MacAndrew. "Perhaps Mr. Foote
will assist us?"

"I will do anything you like to be even with him," returned Jimmy
vindictively.

"That's the sort of talk," answered MacAndrew. "Now let us make our
way to his cabin. Mr. Maas, I shall have to trouble you to accompany
us."

"I'll do nothing of the sort," responded Maas. "I decline to be left
alone with you."

"I'm very much afraid you've no option," remarked MacAndrew calmly; and
as he spoke he gave a little significant twist to the revolver he held
in his hand. "Come, sir," he continued more sternly than he had yet
spoken. "On to your feet, if you please. Remember you are playing
with desperate men. If by hesitating you get into trouble, you will
have only yourself to thank. Your friend, the cruiser, is still a
couple of miles away, as you must be aware, and a revolver-shot would
scarcely be heard as far."

Seeing that there was nothing for it but to obey, Maas rose to his feet
and passed out of the smoking-room, along the deck, and down the saloon
companion-ladder to his own cabin. Once there, MacAndrew handed his
revolver to Jimmy, with the request that he would be good enough to
watch the prisoner during his absence, and to put a bullet through his
skull if he should attempt to escape or give the alarm.

"For my part," resumed MacAndrew, "I'm going to test the resources of
Mr. Browne's medicine-chest."

Five minutes later he returned with an ounce or so of some dark fluid
in a graduating-glass.

"Good heavens! You're surely not going to poison him," exclaimed
Browne; while Maas stared at the glass with frightened eyes.

"Poison him?" answered MacAndrew coolly. "My dear fellow, is it likely
I should do anything so absurd? No; I am simply going to place him in
a position of safety, so that he cannot harm us during the time the