ly tumbled
into the boat, Sir Edgar and Lady Emily vying with each other in the
heartiness of their congratulations at our success and the eagerness
with which they asked for details of the adventure. Miss Merrivale, on
the contrary, was strangely silent, contenting herself with a warm clasp
of the hand at the moment of our reunion; and presently, when we had
shoved off again for the ship, I noticed that she was furtively crying.
I concluded that the reaction from the long hours of suspense that she
had just passed through had proved rather too much for her nerves, and
so prudently appeared to take no notice whatever of her little
break-down. We soon reached the ship, and, upon my solemn assurance
that they might do so with absolute safety, the rescued party at once
retired below to their respective cabins; Miss Merrivale only lingering
behind for a moment to say--

"I have no words to express how glad and thankful I am that you have
been successful in your hazardous enterprise. You are a brave man, as
well as a--But,"--with a sudden, merry smile, "I will not say more, lest
I make you vain. Good night!"

I was beginning to feel a bit puzzled at this young lady's manner, which
seemed to have undergone a subtle, indescribable change within the last
twelve hours that was as incomprehensible as it was pleasant. It was
just then, however, scarcely a suitable moment for speculation upon such
an inscrutable subject as the deportment of a lovely and charming woman
to a simple sailor like myself; so I dismissed the matter from my mind
and turned to the consideration of other subjects, less agreeable, but
calling more imperatively for my immediate attention.

The first thing was to summon Forbes and Joe to a council of war for
discussion of the question what was to be done with the mutineers.
There were some of them that it would be obviously impossible to retain
on board the ship with the least chance of safety to ourselves; but I
scarcely believed they could all be equally bad, and I was in hopes
that, upon consultation with Joe, I should learn that we might trust a
sufficient number of them to enable us to make the voyage to Valparaiso
in safety, where I thought it probable I might be able to pick up an
entire new crew, without very much difficulty. On submitting the
question to him, however, Joe gave it as his very decided opinion that
there were only three out of the eleven mutineers whom it would be in
the least de