uimalt."

"We should have to go up and claim them afterwards."

"You believe, then, that he is staunch?"

"I am sure of it, sir."

"Well, then, good-bye, my lad. I'll speak to the captain about your
chests, and have them left with the agents of the ship, but you will
have to give up your passage-money. There will be no getting that
back."

"I'm afraid not," I said gloomily.

"Yes, they may sail at any time," said Gunson, impatiently. "Better go
with me, boy."

"No," I said.

"You are giving up your passage and your chances for the sake of a
fellow not worth his salt."

"You don't know him as I do," I replied. "I will not believe it of
him."

"Well, if he is not staunch you are, at all events, my lad. Good-bye.
If he does come back run down to the wharf at once, the schooner may not
have sailed."

"He has got into some trouble, I'm sure," I cried.

"Good-bye."

"Good-bye," I said, holding out my hand; but my lips quivered, for I was
horribly disappointed.

"Once more," cried Mr Gunson, as he gripped my hand hard, "I tell you
he is playing you false. You had better come."

"No."

"You are not afraid, are you?"

I flung his hand away.

"No," he said, smiling, "not a bit. There, Mayne, my lad, he has thrown
you over, but I can't. If you stay, I'll stay too."

"Mr Gunson!" I cried.

"Yes, my lad, and we'll see if he comes back."

"He will if he can, I'm sure," I cried. "Well, we shall see."

"I am sure he has got into some trouble; I am certain of it. Ah, here
he is!"

For the door opened at that moment, but it was not Esau, only the
landlady, who in broken German-English, told us that a message had
arrived from the captain to say we were to go on board.

"Thank you. _Gut_!" said Gunson, laconically. And then, as the woman
left the room, he continued, "Well, I'll take your view of it, my lad.
We'll say he has got into some trouble and cannot get back."

"Yes; I'm sure of it," I cried. "Very well, then, we must get him out
of it. Of course it is no use for us to waste time by going from house
to house. I'll go and see the chief man in the police, and see if they
can find him for us."

"Yes," I said, eagerly; "come on."

"No, no, you stay. He may, as you say, return, and you must be here to
meet him, or he may go off again, and matters be worse."

"He'd go to the schooner then."

"If the schooner had not sailed. You stop, and I hope he will turn up
hero."

Anxious a