w alarmed and agitated Violet.
But she was spared the full extent of the shock, not having recognized
her lover in the man who had swarmed down the steamer's side to be
ultimately stunned and overpowered. In haste to complete the task which
had brought her there, she mounted to the deck of the _Cobra_ without
waiting to see the sequel of the disturbance.

As she stepped on board she noticed that the ship, which had been
wrapped in complete darkness, suddenly blazed from stem to stern in the
full glow of the electric light. She was surprised at this premature
disclosure of the vessel's position, as long as it remained stationary
off the coast Leslie not being safe from arrest. But she reflected that
it did not really matter, since she hoped to prevail on him to go back
with her and face his accusers.

The sudden illumination showed her the hairless features of Captain
Brant, who had come down from the bridge to meet her at the gangway. The
monkeyish limbs and curious leper-like face of the _Cobra's_ commander
filled her with a repulsion which was increased by the mocking smile and
bow of his greeting.

"Miss Maynard, I believe?" he said in his thin, piping treble. "Allow me
to introduce myself as the captain of this ship, Simon Brant by name,
and very much at your service. If you will do me the honour to follow I
will conduct you to the saloon, where I think that you will find that
everything for your comfort has been----"

"My comfort doesn't count, as I shall only be on the steamer a few
minutes," Violet cut him short in the rather imperious tone she
sometimes used to people she disliked. "If you will take me to Mr.
Chermside I shall hope not to delay you very long, for I am anxious to
be put on shore again at the earliest possible moment."

"Oh, I'll see that you're put on shore again, miss, don't you make any
mistake about that. I'm on the job for no other purpose," replied Brant
with a chuckle that he made no attempt to conceal.

His insolent manner caused Violet to eye him with growing indignation,
and a hot reproof trembled on her tongue. But Bully Cheeseman created a
diversion by approaching the captain and handing him a letter.

"The sealed orders, I reckon; the gent gave them to me for you," said
the mate, with a cold stare at his late passenger, whose statuesque
beauty it had been too dark to appreciate on the way to the steamer in
the launch.

Brant tore open the envelope, glanced through the content