ho had lived the comparatively lawless life of diggers on a new
gold-field. In short, we were both thoroughly puzzled. But we
eventually agreed that, under the circumstances, it would be prudent to
keep our eyes open, and to adopt precisely such precautionary measures
as we should resort to if we were expecting the men to break into open
mutiny. I also undertook to find or make an opportunity to instruct Joe
that, in the event of his making any fresh discoveries, he was at once
to acquaint the mate with them, if he experienced any difficulty in
communicating with me.

On that same evening, during the first watch, when--the ladies having
retired as usual about four bells--Sir Edgar joined me, according to
custom, to smoke a final cigar and indulge in a desultory chat before
retiring to his own cabin for the night, I availed myself of the
opportunity to explain the situation to him also; first cautioning him
not to exhibit any astonishment or other emotion that might excite the
suspicions of the helmsman, who would doubtless have his eyes upon us.
He was, of course, and naturally enough, very much discomposed at such
startling intelligence; the more so that I was unable to give him any
definite information as to the character of the danger with which we
were threatened; but he maintained the same enviable coolness and
composure of manner that I had so greatly admired on the memorable night
of our adventure in the Straits of Sunda, and assured me that I might
rely upon him to be ready for action in any emergency, however sudden.

It was my middle watch below that night, and I had been in my berth
about an hour, tossing restlessly from side to side, and striving to
devise plans to meet every contingency I could possibly think of, when I
heard a sound of muffled footsteps outside my state-room door, followed
by a very gentle cautious tap upon the panelling.

"Yes," I answered, in a low cautious tone; "who is there?"

"It's Joe, sir," was the reply, in an equally subdued tone of voice.
"I've got some news for you at last, with a vengeance!"

I opened the door; and, sure enough, there stood Joe, glancing anxiously
over his shoulder, as though he every moment expected to be followed and
dragged on deck before he could make his communication.

Signing to him to enter the cabin, I noiselessly closed the door behind
him, and, pointing toward the locker, said--

"Now, Joe, heave ahead, my man, and tell me your story in you