uch notice of
all she said, and all through that I'm here."

"Haven't we got enough ready, Jem?" said Don, impatiently, for his
companion's words troubled him. They seemed to fit his own case.

"Yes, I should think that will do now, sir, so let's begin and twist up
a rope. We sha'n't want it very thick."

"But we shall want it very strong, Jem."

"Here goes, then, to make it," said Jem, taking the balls of yarn,
knotting the ends together, and then taking a large piece of sack and
placing it beside him.

"To cover up the stuff if we hear any one coming, my lad. Now then, you
pay out, and I'll twist. Mustn't get the yarn tangled."

Don set to work earnestly, and watched his companion, who cleverly
twisted away at the gathered-up yarn, and then rolled his work up into a
ball.

The work was clumsy, but effective, and in a short time he had laid up a
few yards of a very respectable line, which seemed quite capable of
bearing them singly.

Foot by foot the line lengthened, and the balls of yarn grew less, when
just in the middle of their task Don made a dash at Jem, and threw down
the yarn.

"Here, what yer doing? You'll get everything in a tangle, sir."

"Hush! Some one coming."

"I can't hear him."

"There is, I tell you. Listen!"

Jem held his head on one side like a magpie, and then shook it.

"Nobody," he said; but hardly had he said the words than he dabbed the
rope under him, and seized upon the yarn, threw some of the old sacks
upon it, and then laid his hand on Don's shoulder, just as the trap-door
was raised softly a few inches, and a pair of eyes appeared at the broad
crack.

Then the trap made a creaking noise, and a strange sailor came up, to
find Jem seated on the floor tailor-fashion, and Don lying upon his
face, with his arms crossed beneath his forehead, and some of the old
sacking beneath him.

The man came up slowly, and laid the trap back in a careful way, as if
to avoid making a noise, and then, after a furtive look at Jem, who gave
him a sturdy stare in return, he stood leaning over the opening and
listening.

Footsteps were heard directly after, and a familiar voice gave some
order. Directly after the bluff-looking man with whom they had had so
much dealing stepped up into the loft.

"Well, my lads," he said, "how are the sore places?"

Jem did not answer.

"Sulky, eh? Ah, you'll soon get over that. Now, my boy, let's have a
look at you."

He gave Don a clap on t