watch out for buoys. I'm going out the South and
Hypocrite Channels."

Then a dull boom rang out from astern, followed by another and another,
and Jenkins laughed.

"They've found that sentry," he said, "and have telephoned Fort
Independence; but it's no good. They've only got salute guns. We passed
that fort twenty minutes ago."

"Any others?" they asked.

"Fort Warren, down on the Narrows. That's why I'm going out through the
Hypocrite. Keep your eyes peeled for buoys, you ginks, and keep those
leads going."

Calm and imperturbable, a huge, square-faced giant of a man, Jenkins
naturally assumed the leadership of this band of jail-breakers. The
light from the binnacle illuminated a countenance of rugged yet
symmetrical features, stamped with prison pallor, but also stamped with
a stronger imprint of refinement. A man palpably out of place, no doubt.
A square peg in a round hole; a man with every natural attribute of a
master of men. Some act of rage or passion, perhaps, some non-adjustment
to an unjust environment, had sent him to the naval prison, to escape
and become a pirate; for that was the legal status of all.

Soon the wind shifted and the fog cleared to seaward, but still held its
impenetrable wall between them and the town. Then they turned on both
searchlights, and saw buoys ahead, to starboard and port.

Jenkins boasted a little. "I've run these channels for years," he said,
"and I know them as I know the old backyard at home. Hello, what's up?"

A man had run to the pilot-house door in great excitement.

"An officer aboard," he whispered. "I was down looking for grub, and saw
him. He's been asleep."

"Take the wheel," said Jenkins, calmly. "Keep her as she goes, and leave
that black buoy to starboard." Then he stepped out on deck.

CHAPTER III

Seamen, officers as well as men, accustomed to "watch and watch," of
four hours' alternate duty and sleep, usually waken at eight bells, even
when sure of an all night's sleep. It was long after midnight when
Denman had gone to sleep on the pantry floor, and the slight noise of
getting under way did not arouse him; but when eight bells came around
again, he sat up, confused, not conscious that he had been called, but
dimly realizing that the boat was at sea, and that he was culpable in
not being on deck.

The crew had come, no doubt, and he had over-slept. He did not
immediately realize that it was still dark, and that if the crew had
come the ste