answered I. "But I will tell you what I _can_ do. If you will
suffer me to go on deck I can see whether all hands have boarded the
barque. And, if they have, and there appears to be the slightest
possibility of our being able to effect our escape, I will cut the brig
adrift, and make off with her!"

"Do you really think such a feat possible?" demanded my companion, with
sparkling eyes.

"I scarcely know," answered I. "If the breeze has freshened at all
within the last few minutes, it might be done; not otherwise; because in
the latter event they could lower the barque's boats and overhaul us in
a very few minutes."

"At all events it is quite worth while to ascertain whether there is any
chance of success. Let us go on deck and see!" exclaimed Miss Onslow,
her features at once all aglow with excitement as she sprang to her
feet.

"Agreed!" cried I, overjoyed to find the young lady so unexpectedly
yielding approval to my rather desperate plan. "I will go on deck
first, and ascertain the precise state of affairs; and if I find that
there is a sufficiently fair prospect of success to justify us in the
attempt I will call to you through the skylight as soon as I need your
help."

My companion regarded me somewhat doubtfully for a moment, and then
reseated herself, saying:

"Very well. I think I can trust you _now_. But please be very careful;
and do not attempt anything unless you feel certain of success."

Meanwhile, the uproar that had prevailed for a few minutes prior to and
following upon the contact between the two craft had suddenly ceased;
and as I emerged from the companion-way I saw that, even supposing there
had ever been a prospect of my plan proving successful--which there had
not, the wind having died away to the merest breathing--I was now too
late. For the two vessels--their hulls prevented from grinding together
by several cork fenders hung between them--were so securely lashed
together that it would have cost me several minutes' hard work to cut
them adrift. Moreover, O'Gorman, followed by half a dozen of his gang,
were just in the act of scrambling inboard again from the stranger. The
Irishman saw me upon the instant of my emerging from the companion, and
immediately shouted:

"Here, Misther Conyers, ye're just the man we want! Do you spake
Frinch?"

"Yes," answered I, believing that I saw my opportunity. "Why?"

"Becase," he replied, "the chaps aboard the barque don't seem to be