poison," laughed the doctor. "But I
think you need have no anxiety about my patient, for I have no doubt he
will do very well."

"But there must have been a quarrel or a fight somewhere about here,
and I should like to know something about it," continued Mrs. Blossom,
as she dropped herself heavily on one of the divans.

"I can give you no information whatever; for I leave all the fights and
quarrels to our worthy and discreet commander, and do not meddle with
his affairs," added the surgeon.

"Do you really know nothing at all about what has happened here, Dr.
Hawkes?" asked Mrs. Belgrave; and it was plain that the curiosity of the
rest of the party was strongly excited, though they were more guarded in
manifesting it.

"Absolutely nothing, my dear madam, beyond the fact that the man is
Captain Mazagan," replied Dr. Hawkes. "I never inquire into the affairs
of my patients beyond what it is necessary for me to know in treating
the case. I have no doubt Captain Ringgold will give you all the
particulars of whatever has happened here; for it looks as though
something of importance had occurred."

A little later the commander, followed by the four boys, appeared, and
Mrs. Blossom renewed the onslaught. The others were, perhaps, quite as
anxious to learn what had taken place; but they were silent, and waited
for the captain to answer her questions if he was disposed to do so.

"I am sorry to interrupt this pleasant party, ladies and gentlemen, but
I have already given the order to weigh the anchor, and we shall go to
sea immediately," said Captain Ringgold. "The young gentlemen of the
Maud must take their leave, and return to the tender."

"Has anything happened here, Captain Ringgold?" asked Mrs. Belgrave,
taking him by the arm.

"Something has happened here," replied the commander, loud enough to be
heard by all in the boudoir. "But here are the four young men in whom
you are all more or less interested, and you can see that they are not
injured."

"Have you been hurt, Mr. Belgrave?" asked Miss Blanche, by whose side
Louis had taken his place when he entered the apartment, as he was very
much in the habit of doing when the party assembled.

"Not a hair of my head has been damaged," he replied.

"As soon as we are under way, and get clear of the shore, I shall tell
you the whole story of certain events which have transpired in Khrysoko
Bay during our absence," continued the commander. "I am willing to add
th