ndow.

"Can you see any one on board, sir?" I said.

"Only one man. But he is evidently watching us."

"Where? I can't see any one."

"In the main-top."

I had not raised my eyes from the deck, but now as I looked aloft, there
was a man plainly enough, and he was, as Mr Frewen said, watching us.

Directly after, I saw him descend, and we neither of us had any doubt
about its being Jarette.

Our attention was now directed to Mr Brymer, who, being in command,
had, directly the light made such action possible, begun to see how we
poor wretches afloat in an open boat, eight hundred or a thousand miles
from land, were situated for water and food, and he soon satisfied
himself that our enemy, possibly for his own sake, had been extremely
merciful and considerate.

For there were two breakers of water, a couple of kegs of biscuit, and a
quantity of tins of provision, which had been pitched down anyhow.

There was a compass too, and the regular fit out of the boat, spars and
two sails, so that if the water kept calm, and gentle breezes sprung up,
there was no reason why we should not safely reach land.

But we did not wish to safely reach land in that way, and the exaltation
in Mr Brymer's face and tone was due to the power which Jarette had
unwittingly placed in our leader's hands.

"He never thought of it; he could not have thought of it," said Mr
Brymer. "Of course in a gale of wind we shall be nowhere, but if the
weather is kindly, we can hang about the ship, or sail round her if we
like, and so weary him out, that sooner or later our chance must come
for surprising him."

"Without any arms," said Mr Preddle, shaking his head sadly.

"We must use brains instead, sir," replied Mr Brymer. "Jarette
mastered us by means of cunning, we must fight him with his own weapons.
Dale, I shall have to depend on you to carry out a plan I have ready."

"Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "what is it?"

"That you shall see, my lad. Now then, gentlemen, and my men, we must
have strict discipline, please; just as if we were on board ship. The
first thing is to rig up a bit of an awning here astern, to shelter the
captain and--faugh! it makes my gorge rise to see that young scoundrel
here, but I suppose we must behave like Christians,--eh, Mr Frewen?"

"You have just proved that you intended to, sir, for you were thinking
of sheltering the lad as well as Captain Berriman, when you talked of
the awning."

"Well, yes, I conf