McCrae, and
the chief figure after Holgate in that mutiny and massacre. I shrank
back behind the half-open door, but he did not see me. He had turned
and gone back with an angry exclamation.

"Stand away there!" I heard, in a voice of authority, and I knew the
voice this time.

It was Holgate's. The mutineers had the ship.

What, then, had become of the Prince's party? What fate had enveloped
them? I waited no longer, but staggered rather than slipped out of the
saloon and groped in the darkness toward the stairs. Once on them, I
pulled myself up by the balustrade until I reached the landing, where
the entrance-hall gave on the state-rooms. I was panting, I was aching,
every bone seemed broken in my body, and I had no weapon. How was I to
face the ruffians, who might be in possession of the rooms? I tried the
handle of the door, but it was locked. I knocked, and then knocked
louder with my knuckles. Was it possible that some one remained alive?
Summoning my wits to my aid, I gave the signal which had been used by
me on previous occasions on returning from my expeditions. There was a
pause; then a key turned; the door opened, and I fell forward into the
corridor.

CHAPTER XVI

PYE

I looked up into Barraclough's face.

"Then you're all right," I said weakly; "and the Princess----"

"We've held these rooms, and by heaven we'll keep 'em," said he
vigorously.

I saw now that his left arm was in a sling, but my gaze wandered afield
under the lantern in search of others.

"The Prince and the Princess are safe," said he, in explanation. "But
it's been a bad business for us. We've lost the cook, Jackson, and
Grant, and that little beggar, Pye."

I breathed a sigh of relief at his first words; and then as I took in
the remainder of his sentence, "What! is Pye dead?"

"Well, he's missing, anyway," said Barraclough indifferently; "but he's
not much loss."

"Perhaps he's in his cabin. He locked himself in earlier," I said.
"Give me an arm, like a good fellow. I'm winged and I'm all bruises. I
fell into the saloon."

"Gad, is that so?" said he; and I was aware that some one else was
listening near. I raised my head, and, taking Barraclough's hand,
looked round. It was Princess Alix. I could make her out from her
figure, but I could not see her face.

"You have broken an arm?" she said quickly.

"It is not so bad as that, Miss Morland," I answered. "I got a scrape
on the shoulder and the fall dazed me."