led with my answer.

"It is only to gain time."

"And what then?" he inquired coldly.

I shrugged my shoulders as Sir John had shrugged his. This was common
sense carried to the verge of insanity. There must fall a time when
there is no further room for reasoning, and surely it had come now.

"You will be good enough to inform the mutineers, Sir John
Barraclough," pursued the Prince, having thus silenced me, "that we
have not the treasure they are in search of, and that undoubtedly it is
already in their hands, or in the hands of some of them, possibly by
the assistance of confederates," with which his eyes slowed round to
Lane.

The words, foolish beyond conception, as I deemed them, suddenly struck
home to me. "Some of them!" If the Prince had not shifted his treasure,
certainly Lane had not. I knew enough of the purser to go bail for him
in such a case. And he had lost his key. I think it was perhaps the
mere mention of confederates that set my wits to work, and what
directed them to Pye I know not.

"Wait one moment," said I, putting my hand on Barraclough. "I'd like to
ask a question before you precipitate war," and raising my voice I
cried, "Is Holgate there?"

"Yes, doctor, and waiting for an answer, but I've got some tigers
behind me."

"Then what's become of Pye?" I asked loudly.

There was a perceptible pause ere the reply came. "Can't you find him?"

"No," said I. "He was last seen in his cabin about midnight, when he
locked himself in."

"Well, no doubt he is there now," said Holgate, with a fat laugh. "And
a wise man, too. I always betted on the little cockney's astuteness.
But, doctor, if you don't hurry up, I fear we shall want sky-pilots
along."

"What is this? Why are you preventing my orders being carried out?"
asked the Prince bluffly.

I fell back. "Do as you will," said I. "Our lives are in your hands."

Barraclough shouted the answer dictated to him, and there came a sound
of angry voices from the other side of the door. An axe descended on
it, and it shivered.

"Stand by there," said Barraclough sharply, and Lane closed up.

Outside, the noise continued, but no further blow was struck, and at
last Holgate's voice was raised again:

"We will give you till eight o'clock this evening, captain, and
good-day to you. If you part with the goods then, I'll keep my promise
and put you ashore in the morning. If not----" He went off without
finishing his sentence.

"He will not keep