The suspense became unendurable; and in his anguish he
started up to burst open the saloon-door and learn the worst at once,
but (remembering Talbot's threat, and more than half-believing him to be
capable of carrying it into execution) turned back again and fell to
pacing rapidly to and fro the whole length of the saloon instead.

At last! at last! the half-hour of penance was over, and he was free
once more. He dashed at the locked saloon-door, and, frantically
hammering upon it with his clenched firsts until his knuckles streamed
with blood, shouted eagerly--

"Talbot! Talbot! the half-hour is up; so open the door, please, and let
me out, there's a good fellow."

Then he applied his ear to the key-hole, listening eagerly for the first
sound of approaching footsteps.

Five seconds--ten seconds--twenty--thirty--a minute; why did they not
come? Was it possible that they had not heard him? He applied his
mouth to the joint between the door and its jamb, and again shouted,
"Talbot! _Talbot_! _Talbot_!" until his voice cracked with the strain
he put upon it. Still no answer, no sound save the wail of the wind,
the wash of the water, and the creaking of the ship's timbers. "Good
God! were they really gone? _Was_ he, after all, actually left there to
die alone?" He seized the handle of the door and tugged at it,
fiercely, desperately, with the strength of a madman; but the stout lock
stood firm, defying his utmost efforts. Then he suddenly remembered
that the captain's cabin was situated on the other side of the ship,
with one door opening into the saloon and the other out on deck. With a
single bound and a wild cry he crossed the saloon, and laying his hand
upon the handle of the door of the captain's cabin, turned it; the door
swang open. Another bound and he was at the outer door; was it locked?
No; a twist of the handle, and he stepped out on deck, with the water
surging and splashing over his feet. But what cared he then for such a
trifle; he was not even conscious of it. Swiftly his gaze swept round
the decks: they were empty. In an instant he was at the gangway and
peering over the side. No boats there; nothing but the empty tackles of
the quarter-boats alternately swinging in the air and trailing in the
water with the roll of the ship. "_Where_ were the boats? Ha! towing
astern, of course, it would simply mean destruction to them if they
attempted to remain alongside in so heavy a sea." In fra