s, and emitted
a low whistle. "Sindkhote, by God!" Violet heard him mutter under his
breath, and it struck the first note of vague, uncomprehended danger. "A
long cruise that, but it's all in the day's work."

Aloud he added: "Have you got that swab trussed up?"

"Haven't left him room to wriggle," was Cheeseman's reply, accompanied
by an evil grin. "They're hoisting him aboard now. Where would you wish
him to be stowed?"

"Is he unconscious?"

"Dazed, but coming round, I reckon."

"Then tell them to take him to his state-room--you know what I mean, the
one with the appliances for taming naughty boys," said the captain,
winking at his subordinate. "I'll come and read the riot act to him as
soon as I've got time. When you've fixed him up safely, sling the launch
inboard and take charge of the bridge. You know what to do, but I'll
join you as soon as I've seen to this lady. Now, madam, follow me,
please."

Violet's eagerness to see her lover was so intense that in spite of the
misgivings with which Brant's manner had begun to inspire her she obeyed
his curt command. She tried to attribute his rudeness to irritation at
having had his start delayed on her account, and she told herself that
she ought to be ashamed of her vague alarm. After all the _Cobra_ and
her saturnine commander were only incidents in a bad dream which would
be past in a few minutes--as soon as she should have persuaded Leslie to
return with her to Ottermouth.

But, pursuant on this train of thought, the question occurred to her:
What had the captain meant by ordering his offensive mate to "have the
launch slung inboard?" Many happy days on her father's yacht had made
her familiar with sea terms, and she knew that the order was
incompatible with Nugent's promise that the launch should take her back
to the foot of Colebrook Chine, either with or without her lover. If it
was required for that purpose there was no reason for hoisting it
aboard.

And then, just as she was hesitating how to put her question into words,
there came the terrible enlightenment. She had reached the door of the
saloon in the deck-house, and Brant, with another of his sardonic bows,
was standing aside for her to enter, when the rattle of the launch being
raised to the davits fell upon her ears, succeeded without a moment's
interval by the sharp beat of the _Cobra's_ engine-room gong. The
steamer immediately began to move through the water, gathering speed
with every pulse