sight of Holgate I was assured in myself
that he had descended the stairway. Any noise his heavy feet might make
would be absorbed into the general racket of the night. I stood and
wondered. What was Holgate's object in this silent expedition?

I confess my curiosity rose high--to a pitch, indeed, at which it might
not be denied. A surmise sprang into my mind, but I hardly allowed it
time to formulate, for not a minute after the recognition I, too, was
on my way down the stairs. It was comparatively easy to descend, for,
as I have said, there was no danger of discovery from noise, and I had
the balustrade under my hand. When I had reached the floor below I
caught the gleam of the lantern in the distance, and I pursued it down
one of the passages. This pursuit took me past the cabins towards the
kitchen; and then I came to an abrupt pause, for the lantern, too, had
stopped.

I could make out Holgate's bulky form and the light flashing on the
walls, and now, too, I found that my senses had not deceived me, and
that there was a second man. He stood in the shadow, so that I could
not identify him; and both men were peering into an open door.

My position in the passage began to assume a perilous character, and I
made investigations in my neighbourhood. Near me was the door of a
cabin, which I opened without difficulty and entered. Now, by putting
out my head, I could see the mutineers, while I had a refuge in the
event of their turning back. They were still bent forwards, peering
into the room. I thought that, with good luck, I might venture farther
while they were so engrossed with their occupation. So, leaving my
hiding-place, I stole forwards boldly to the next cabin and entered it
as I had entered the former. I was now quite close to them, and
suddenly I saw who was Holgate's companion. It was Pye.

With equal celerity did my brain take in the situation and interpret
it. Indeed, I should have guessed at it long before, I think, had not
the events of the night thrown me into a state of confusion. It was the
treasure they looked at, and this was where Pye had concealed it. As
this truth came home to me Holgate lifted his head and I drew back,
setting the cabin door ajar. Presently after the bull's-eye flashed
through the crack of the door, and stayed there. For a moment I thought
all was up, and that my retreat had been discovered, but I was soon
reassured. The noise of the water had fallen, and above it, or rather
t