lescent.

Pete stared as he recognised Humpy Dee and five other partners in the
raid.

"There, what did I tell you?" said the first-named, speaking to his
companions, but glaring savagely at Pete the while. "There he is. I
allus knowed it. He aren't in irons. It was his doing. Give warning,
he did, and they brought the sailor Jacks up. It was a regular trap."

"What do you mean?" said Pete wonderingly.

"What I say. I always knew you'd turn traitor and tell on us."

"You don't know what you're talking about," cried Pete. "Look here,
lads."

The men he addressed uttered a low growl and turned from him in disgust.

"Oh, very well," said Pete bitterly; "if you like to believe him instead
of me, you can."

"I told you so," went on Humpy Dee, whose countenance looked repulsive
now from a patch of strips of sticking-plaster upon his forehead; "and
he says I don't know what I'm talking about."

"That's right," said Pete; "you don't."

"Maybe; but I do now. Look ye here, Pete Burge; it's your doing that
we're here. Nearly the whole lot on us took--there, you can see some of
'em sailors now. Pressed men. They took the pick of us; but we're not
good enough, we're not, while you're to be a bo'sun, or some'at o' that
sort, you expect. But you won't, for, first chance I get, Pete Burge,
I'm going to pitch you overboard, or put a knife in your back; so look
out."

"You don't know what you're talking about," said Pete again, for nothing
better occurred to him; and as the charge seemed to have gone home for
truth with the other unfortunates, one and all embittered by sickness,
injuries, and confinement in irons below deck, Pete sulkily did as they
did, turned away, confident that Humpy Dee's threat would not be put in
force then; for a marine was standing sentry over them, till the men in
irons were marched below, Pete finding that, as one on the sick-list, he
was free to go up or down when he liked.

During the next fortnight the man puzzled himself as to what was to
become of them. He had seen others of his companions often enough,
going about their duties; but every one turned from him with a scowl of
dislike, which showed that the charge Humpy had made had gone home, and
that all believed he had betrayed them.

The consequence was that he passed much of his time below decks, and
preferred to come up for his breath of fresh air after dark, passing his
time beside Nic's hammock, thinking what he ought to