rent from the action of
anthracite coal, Sampson came up from the fire room.

"We shall have a sufficient head of steam in a few minutes to justify
you in going ahead, Captain Passford," said the engineer without waiting
to be questioned.

"I am glad to hear it, though we are in no special hurry at present, in
spite of our impatience to know what is before us," replied the captain.
"Do you know the man who passes under the name of Mulgrum, Mr. Sampson?"

"You mean Pink, the deaf mute? Mr. Nawood pointed him out to me, and I
have seen him about the deck or in the steerage several times."

"Has he been in the engine room at any time since we sailed?" asked
Christy.

"He may have been; but I have not noticed him anywhere in my
department," replied Sampson.

"You will not allow him in the engine or fire room," continued the
captain. "Send him out, drive him out, if necessary, at once."

"Being deaf and dumb, I should suppose he were harmless wherever he
happened to be. Is he--"

"Never mind what he is just now, Mr. Sampson," interposed Christy. "Be
very particular to obey my order in regard to him to the letter; that's
all now. Inform me at once when you are ready to go ahead, and I shall
be on the bridge."

The order which Christy had just given to the engineer was the result of
his reflection since he came down from the bridge. He had been
cudgelling his brains to determine what the conspirators could possibly
do when the decisive moment came, if it should happen to come as he
neared the steamer in the fog, to derange the operations on board. It
seemed to him before that all they could do was to leap on board of the
enemy, if it came to boarding her, and reinforce her crew. He had talked
over this matter with Flint and Baskirk, and there were three who would
be ready to shoot either of them the instant their treachery should be
apparent.

Before it would be possible to board, a man as intelligent as Mulgrum,
who had served as executive officer, could easily disable the engine.
This idea had but just come to the commander, who thought before that he
had closed every opening against the conspirators. He went on deck as
soon as he had settled this matter. The fog seemed to be rather more
dense than before, and when he went on the bridge, it was reported that
the stranger could no longer be made out.

"I have just received the roster of the 'Bronx Association,'" said
Flint, as the captain joined him. "It is sign