"

"Ships don't get wrecked out in the open sea," I replied coolly, "only
have their sails blown away, and sometimes lose a spar, or get a boat
torn off the davits."

"Then you think we are safe?"

"Oh yes, I hope so," I replied.

"Safe? Of course, darling little cowardly sis," said Mr Denning,
kissing her pale cheek very lovingly, and I felt that I had never liked
him so well before, never having seen his true nature and affection for
his sister.

"Now then, Mr Dale and I have to go back on duty to shoot mutineers and
pirates, and you are to lie down and trust in our all taking care of
you. Try and sleep for a few hours."

"Sleep!" she said reproachfully, "with you exposed to all that danger."

"Yes! Why not? To grow strong, and ready to help me if I want it."

"But, must you go, John?"

"Yes, dear," he said gravely, "I must; but, please God, the worst danger
is over, and you will not hinder me from doing my duty like a man, even
if I am a weak one."

She held his hand to her cheek, and smiling at me, spoke quite
cheerfully.

"Come back in about an hour," she said, "and I will have coffee made
with the spirit-lamp, and try and find some biscuits."

"That we will," cried Mr Denning. "Make plenty, Lena, Mr Brymer and--
and the sailors will be glad of some."

She nodded, trying to look cheerful, and we left her, but had not
reached the broken companion-way before a door on our right opened, a
light was thrown across us, and I felt Mr Denning's arm twitch. For it
was Mr Frewen coming out of the cabin in which Walters had been placed,
the one in which Mr Preddle had been kept a prisoner, and as soon as he
was outside he carefully locked it.

"Not much need for it," he said to us quietly, "for the little wretch is
very weak still. Nice sort of characters you choose for your
companions, Dale," he continued. "How do we know that you have not been
contaminated, and are going to rise against us?"

"There's no fear till the storm's over, Mr Frewen," I said, laughing,
and then, with the two gentlemen keeping perfectly silent, we went
forward again, and had nearly reached the forecastle-hatch, when,
sounding very feeble and strange, there was the report of a pistol, and
we hurried forward to hear shouts of rage coming from below the hatch,
and the blows of an axe being used with such effect, that before long
whoever wielded it must make a way through.

Mr Brymer glanced round at us as we came up, and I