e of them," said Jarette, with a peculiar intonation in
his voice. "I'm not afraid of that."

"Strikes me," growled Bob, "if yer wants to know my 'pinion, as it must
have been some one who was up aloft."

I gave a jump.

"Hah!" cried Jarette, "whoever it was you lads chased. I know: it was
that monkey of a boy."

Bob Hampton uttered a low chuckle.

"Like enough," he said.

"And you helped him."

"Oh, very well, then, have it your own way if you like; I helped him,--
but how I could ha' done it, I don't know, cap'n, nor them two neither.
I don't care. But look here, I'm down tired, and it's time some one
else took his trick at the wheel. I want a sleep."

"If you play false to me, Bob Hampton," came in tones which made me
shiver, "you'll have a sleep that will last you for always. Do you
hear?--toujours!"

"Two jours, that's two days, arn't it, skipper?"

"No," hissed the man fiercely; "for ever. Here, Brown, bring an axe and
a lantern. Stand it there."

We heard steps overhead, and a light gleamed down from the lantern
placed upon the stern-rails.

"Now," said Jarette, "be always ready to bring that axe down upon the
head of any man who tries to climb up from the cabin."

"Ay, ay," came in a low growl; and just then I became conscious of the
face just over me, and it was lit from the outside; while farther back I
could dimly make out other faces which were shadowy, and did not appear
to be connected with bodies.

I knew directly after that it was not from the lantern placed on the
stern-rail, but from the pale grey glare in the east, for I had reached
my shelter none too soon. It was the beginning of another day.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

The light was coming fast now, as the sound of talking died out on the
deck, and as I rose, Mr Frewen caught my hand.

"My dear lad," he whispered, "I thought you were gone. Thank God! thank
God!"

"Isn't it horrible?" I whispered, though there was no necessity for
restraining my voice.

"Horrible?" he said; "it seems to be impossible."

"Where's Captain Berriman?"

"In his cabin wounded."

"And Mr Brymer?"

"Yonder. Don't ask."

"Is any one else hurt?" I said, lowering my voice still more.

"I hardly know how many," he said. "It was a surprise. We were all
mastered by treachery. Some traitor came amongst us, and when the
attack began and the ship was seized, we were all fastened in our
cabins."

"Some traitor!" I said, turning cold. "Y