hold of it, and turned it.

"Stop!"

Deering had spoken, and with a jerk the jovial Captain Robinson turned
round.

"Joe!" he gasped, again, "did you speak?"

Now Joe Deering saw by the traitor's pallid cheeks, and frightened
look, what was passing in his mind.

So he was at no pains to destroy the illusion.

"I did. Your ears did not deceive you."

"I thought not," faltered Captain Robinson, plucking up in a faint
degree, however.

"You marvel to see the ocean give up its dead," began Joe Deering, in a
hollow voice.

Jovial Captain Robinson sank against the door for support, while a
delicate green tint spread itself over his face.

We have said that he was a superstitious man.

This huge lump of humanity--nay, rather of inhumanity--was worse than a
schoolgirl in point of courage.

The very word ghost frightened him, if he saw it in print.

He was sure that Joe Deering was dead.

Certain was he that Joe Deering had been decoyed into that floating
coffin, and sent to a watery grave by himself.

Here then was the betrayed man's ghost come to reproach him with his
crime.

The strong man turned heart-sick, and was like to faint.

Joe Deering looked at the fear-stricken traitor in silence.

He enjoyed his terror keenly indeed.

No feeling of pity at the abject terror of the wretched man crossed
him.

For his thoughts went back to those fearful days and nights they passed
on board the doomed "Albatross."

Jovial Captain Robinson had been pitiless before, and the sufferings
gone through in that terrible time had hardened Joe Deering's kind
heart.

A genial, generous and soft-hearted fellow as a rule, he could not
pardon this infamous wretch who had lured him into such a trap, even
while professing the most affectionate friendship for him.

No!

This was Joe Deering's chance--his long looked-for opportunity, and no
weak emotion should spoil the revenge which he had waited for so
patiently.

* * * *

Jovial Captain Robinson essayed to speak.

In a faint, faltering voice, he managed to pronounce Joe Deering's
name.

"Well, murderer!" returned Joe Deering; "what is it you want?"

"I want you to shake hands with me, Joe," responded the other, almost
inaudibly.

"Assassin!"

"I--I--I don't mean you any harm," gasped jovial Captain Robinson.

"Liar!" thundered Joe Deering; "you dare make that statement, hovering
as you do, between life and dea