suppositions (and I could see no flaw in my reasoning), he would
present himself at that time and carry out the farce. It was due to his
men, to the other scoundrels of the pack whom he was cheating. And what
would happen when we maintained that we had no knowledge of the
treasure? It was clear that the men would insist on an assault. And if
so, what chance had we against the infuriated ruffians? On the other
hand, we had nothing to hope for from a compromise with such men.
Altogether, the outlook was very black and lowering. When the Prince
and all that remained with him were swept away, and were as if they had
never been, Holgate would be free to deal with the mutineers according
to his tender mercies; and then, with such confederates as he might
have in the original plot, come into possession of the plunder for
which so many innocent lives and so many guilty ones would have been
sacrificed.

By now the wind had sprung into a gale, and the _Sea Queen_ was running
under bare sticks. The water rolled heavily from the southwest, and the
yacht groaned under the buffets. It became difficult to stand--at
least, for a landsman. We had hitherto experienced such equable, fine
weather that I think we had taken for granted that it must continue.
But now we were undeceived. The yacht pitched uneasily and rolled to
her scuppers, and it was as much as we could do to keep our legs.
Holgate, too, must have been occupied by the duties of his position,
for he was a good mariner, which was, perhaps, as well for us. Chance
decides according to her fancy, and the most trivial accidents are
important in the scheme of destiny. Mademoiselle had an attack of _mal
de mer_ and had recourse to me. Nothing in the world mattered save her
sensations, which were probably very unpleasant, I admit. But the yacht
might go to the bottom, and Holgate might storm the state-rooms at the
head of his mutineers--it was all one to the lady who was groaning over
her symptoms on her bed. She kept me an unconscionable time, and when I
at length got away to what I regarded as more important duties I was
followed by her maid. This girl, Juliette, was a trim, sensible, and
practical woman, who had grown accustomed to her mistress's vagaries,
took them with philosophy, and showed few signs of emotion. But now a
certain fear flowed in her eye.

Would Monsieur tell her if there were any danger? Monsieur looked up,
balanced himself neatly against the wall, as the yach