Heavens! it is a ship!"

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE REVENUE CUTTER

The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the
intervening sail. It was only as I leaned well to one side that I
could distinguish the dim outlines. By that time we were almost upon
it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision. It was hard to
determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above
us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_. I was certain of that from the
height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly
against the sky. From poop to bow there was not a light visible, and
the hull moved through the water like that of a spectral ship.
Apparently we were unnoticed, and as the stretch of water widened
slightly between us, I called out:

"Ahoy there! Take us aboard!"

I shouted twice, before a head popped over the rail, and stared down in
apparent amazement.

"Hullo, the boat! Who are you? What do you want?"

"Small boat adrift; two passengers; throw us a rope."

"All right; standby!"

I could hear his voice up above, shouting orders; there was a rush of
feet, and a rope's end fell within reach. The head bobbed over the
rail again, and, a moment later I had helped her up a swaying boarding
ladder, and felt the solid deck under my feet. The intense darkness
puzzled me, not a gleam of light showing anywhere. Suddenly a hand
touched my arm.

"This way, sir; help the lady aft--the deck is clear."

I could see nothing, barely the planks underfoot, yet there was nothing
to do but obey, with his fingers gripping me.

"What kind of a boat is this?" she whispered.

"I 'm sure I don't know; not big enough for a passenger liner."

"The officer is in uniform."

"Are you sure?"

We were at the head of the companion stairs, and descended carefully,
clinging to the rail. The officer, groping in the darkness, opened a
door at the bottom, and hurried us into the lighted cabin. Facing us,
one hand resting on the table, stood a short, sturdy man in uniform.
Before I could speak, or do more than glance about the Interior, my
eyes still blinded by the sudden blaze of light, he began questioning.

"Who are you? how did you come to be adrift in these waters? Answer
up, sir--you 're no fisherman."

"We escaped from a vessel last evening, sir."

"Escaped! By Gad! are we in a state of war? What do you mean by
escaped--run away?"

"Yes, sir," and I stepped aside so he could s