ome of the scoundrels, and
letting others off scot free."

"Yes," I said, looking with no little interest at the powder which he
had turned out of the tiny scales he had used. "The cook is sure to
stir it well too. But, Mr Frewen, will that little pinch or two of
stuff be enough?"

"Plenty," he said. "It is as far as I dare go, for it is most potent."

"And it will send them off to sleep?"

"Into a sleep so deep that it would be impossible to awaken them for
some hours."

"Ugh!" I ejaculated, as I took the little packet and thrust it into my
pocket. "I hope, if ever you give me any physic, you'll be careful not
to give me any out of the wrong bottle."

"I'll take care," he said. "Mind you warn Mr Brymer to be very careful
too."

I nodded and went out of the cabin, took a turn along the deck to see
that the men were keeping watch by the forecastle-hatch, and then turned
in at the galley to say a word or two to the cook, asking him what we
were to have for our dinner. I went straight back to where Mr Brymer
was down in the captain's store-room with a lantern, by whose light I
could see before me two of the large well-known drum-shaped tins of
portable soup.

"Got it?" he said in a whisper.

I handed him the packet without a word.

"Look here," he said. "There are two kinds, with blue label and yellow
label. You see I shall put the stuff in the yellow labelled tin."

"Yes, I see," I replied; and he opened the packet, shook out the
contents, so that it lay spread on the top of the brown-looking gluey
meat essence, and then stirred it well round with a knife, till it could
not help being well mixed.

"There, we must chance that," he whispered, "but it seems a very small
dose."

"Mr Frewen said it was wonderfully strong," I said.

"Well, we must hope so. Take the tins. You will not make any mistake?"

"Oh no, I'll take care," I said. "The yellow one for the men, the blue
for us; but you don't catch me touching it."

"Nor me, Dale," he said, with a nod. "And look here, I shan't open
this, but here's a big tin of kangaroo-tail; give him that too for
warming up for our dinner."

I went away pretty well loaded, and walked to the galley.

"Here," I said, trying to speak merrily, but it was all forced, for I
felt exceedingly nervous. "I was asking you just now what was for
dinner. Here you are--kangaroo-tail for our dinner, and that soup in
the blue tin; and you're to put plenty of water to th