ve scarce
been five minutes aboard before you arrived. My own opinion is, that
'e's crazed, and don't know what 'e's sayin'."

"Oh!" ejaculated Captain Dunning. "He said that, did he? Then _my_
opinion is, that he's not so crazed as you think. Tell the watch, Mr
Millons, to keep a sharp look-out."

So saying, Captain Dunning descended to the cabin, and Rokens to the
forecastle (in sea phraseology the "fok-sail"), while Glynn Proctor
procured a basin and a piece of soap, and proceeded to rub the coat of
charcoal off his face and hands.

Half-an-hour had not elapsed when the watch on deck heard a loud splash
near the wharf, as if some one had fallen into the water. Immediately
after, a confused sound of voices and rapid footsteps was heard in the
street that opened out upon the quay, and in a few seconds the end of
the wharf was crowded with men who shouted to each other, and were seen
in the dim starlight to move rapidly about as if in search of something.

"Wot can it be?" said Tim Rokens in a low voice, to a seaman who leaned
on the ship's bulwarks close to him.

"Deserter, mayhap," suggested the man.

While Rokens pondered the suggestion, a light plash was heard close to
the ship's side, and a voice said, in a hoarse whisper, "Heave us a
rope, will ye. Look alive, now. Guess I'll go under in two minits if
ye don't."

"Oho!" exclaimed Rokens, in a low, impressive voice, as he threw over
the end of a rope, and, with the aid of the other members of the watch,
hauled Nikel Sling up the side, and landed him dripping and panting on
the deck.

"W'y--Sling! what on airth--?" exclaimed one of the men.

"It's lucky--I am--on airth--" panted the tall cook, seating himself on
the breech of one of the main-deck carronades, and wringing the water
from his garments. "An' it's well I'm not at the bottom o' this 'ere
'arbour."

"But where did ye come from, an' why are they arter ye, lad?" inquired
Rokens.

"W'y? 'cause they don't want to part with me, and I've gi'n them the
slip, I guess."

When Nikel Sling had recovered himself so as to talk connectedly, he
explained to his wondering shipmates how that, after being floored in
the street, he had been carried up to the hospital, and on recovering
his senses, found Mr Millons standing by the bedside, conversing with
the young surgeons. The first words of their conversation showed him
that something was wrong, so, with remarkable self-possession, he
resolved to