hrough it, I could hear Holgate's voice fatly decisive.

"She'll hold, I tell you, for twenty-four hours at any rate, even
without pumps. Hang it, man, do you suppose I can take the risk now?
They're sick enough as it is--all blood and no money. We must let it
lie for a bit and take our opportunity."

Pye's voice followed; I could not hear what he said, but Holgate's was
in answer and coldly impatient.

"You've the stomach of a nursery governess. Good heavens, to run in
harness with you! What the deuce do I know? We're cast away, that's
certain. But I will be hanged if I lose what I've played for, Mr. Pye;
so put that in your pipe."

The light went out and the voice faded. Presently I opened the door and
looked out upon profound darkness.

I knew my way about the yacht by that time, and was not discomposed by
the situation. The mutineer and his treacherous confederate were gone,
and I must make the best of my time to follow them. Nothing could be
effected without a light, and I had no means of procuring one in those
nether regions. I retraced my way more or less by instinct until I came
out at the foot of the stairway, and knew it was easy to regain the
upper regions. Instead of going to the _boudoir_, I sought the group in
the music-room, and was challenged by Barraclough.

"Who's that?"

"Phillimore," I answered. "We must have more light. Have we no more
lanterns?"

"Yes, sir," said Ellison's cheerful voice. "There's some in the
steward's room."

"Good for you," said I. "If some one will give me matches I think I'll
go on a hunt."

The other sailor produced a box of vestas from his pocket, and as he
was unwounded I took him with me on my return journey. In the steward's
room we found several lanterns, as well as some bottles of beer and
some cold fowl. We made a selection from this and got safely back to
our friends. Here we lit two or three of the lanterns, and I opened
some of the beer and left them to a repast. You will be thinking that I
had not kept my word, and had neglected what should have been my prime
duty. I had not forgotten, however. Was it likely? And I made haste at
once to the quarters of the ladies, taking with me something which
should make me welcome--which was a lighted lantern. Princess Alix was
quite recovered, but showed great anxiety for news of her brother. I
was able to quiet her fears by describing the supper at which I had
left him, and her eyes brightened.

"He is so good an