was clear, and far
in the east were the banners of the morning. The gentle air of the dawn
was grateful to my flesh and stimulated my lungs. I opened my chest to
draw it in, and then, recrossing the lobby, I peered out through the
windows on the port side. The dim loom of land saluted my eyes, and
nearer still a precipice of rocks, by which the seafowl were screaming.
We had gone ashore on some sort of island.

This discovery relieved one of the anxieties that had weighed upon me.
At last we had a refuge not only from the violence and treachery of the
ocean, but also from the murderous ruffians who had possession of the
yacht. It was, therefore, with a lighter heart that I descended into
the cabins and made my way along the passage to the point where I had
seen Holgate and Pye stop. I identified the door which they had opened,
and after a little manoeuvring I succeeded in getting it open. It was
the cook's pantry in which I now found myself, and I proceeded to
examine carefully every drawer and every cupboard by the meagre light
of the dawn. I had not been at work ten minutes before I came upon the
contents of the safes, safely stowed in a locker. Well, if the
documents and gold could be shifted once they could be shifted again;
and forthwith I set about the job. It pleased me (I know not why) to
choose no other place than Pye's cabin in which to rehide them. I think
the irony of the choice decided me upon it, and also it was scarcely
likely that Holgate and his accomplice would think of looking for the
treasure in the latter's room.

It took me quite an hour to make the transfer, during which time I was
not interrupted by any alarm. Whatever Holgate and his men were doing,
they evidently did not deem that there was any center of interest in
the saloon cabins at that moment. My task accomplished, I returned to
the music-room, in which the wounded men still slept restlessly. I
occupied my time in preparing a meal, and I took a strong glass of
whisky and water, for my strength was beginning to ebb. I had endured
much and fought hard, and had slept but little. As I stood looking down
on my companions, I was aware of a grey shadow that the slender
sunlight cast as a ghost upon the wall. I turned and saw the Princess.

She was clad as for a journey, and warmly against the cold, and her
face was pale and anxious.

"You are astir, Dr. Phillimore," she said.

"Yes," said I. "I could not sleep."

"Nor I," she returned wit