s she rose and fell, plunging every now and then head-first
into some great wave which broke over her and deluged the decks.

The faint streak of light disappeared from under the door-way, and we
breathed freely again as there were heavy steps overhead, and I could
tell that in all probability Jarette and the others had gone to join the
man--or men--at the wheel.

"I don't envy that madman his position, Dale," said Mr Frewen. "His
mind must be in a pleasant state of anxiety, what with the management of
the ship in a storm, his doubts about his prisoners, and the pleasant
little fancies he must have about the laws of our country."

"I think we're best off after all, aren't we?" I said. "Hush!--he's
back again. No--it's Mr Preddle."

"Are you people asleep?" came from the partition.

"Hush! Go away," I heard Mr Frewen whisper loudly, as after all I
found that I had been deceived, for Jarette had evidently come back to
spy upon and trap us; for, with my breath held in my excitement, I could
hear the rustle of a hand upon the outside of the door, and then a faint
clicking and rustling sound, as if the fastenings were being softly
withdrawn.

"Oh, how I should like to give him a topper!" I thought, as I rose upon
my elbow and listened, making out, in spite of the roar of the storm,
every movement of our enemy.

"Why, if Mr Frewen liked, he could strike him down senseless, and then
we should be masters of the ship, for the men would give in if they had
no leader."

People's minds have a way of running in the same groove when there is
anything very particular to be done, and it was so here, for Mr Frewen
was thinking, as he told me afterwards, exactly as I did.

But now I could hear nothing but the creaking of the ship and the roar
of the storm, and I was not sure whether the door had been opened or
not. Suppose it had been, I thought, and Jarette was going to do some
mischief in the darkness!

It was a horrible thought, one which made the perspiration stand upon my
forehead, and begin to tickle the sides of my nose, as I listened
intently for the next movement, or for the sound of his breathing.

But still I could hear nothing, and I longed for a few moments'
cessation of the thud of the waves and hiss and splash which followed,
just as a billow came over the bows and swept the deck with a tremendous
rush and noise.

That was what our visitors had been waiting for. The door had only been
unfastened. It