t," whispered Briscoe five minutes later. "They're all
whispering and plotting together yonder. Now for it. You tackle the
skipper, and I'll tell your brother. Be as quiet as you can."

Brace thought that the duty of warning his brother should be his, but he
said nothing, and, creeping to the captain's side, he bent over in the
dark, and laid a hand upon his shoulder.

In an instant two powerful hands had him by the throat, and he had hard
work not to struggle.

"Who is it?" said the captain hoarsely.

"I--Brace Leigh," said the young man, in a hoarse whisper.

"You shouldn't rouse me like that, my lad. What is it--Indians?"

Brace told him, and the captain lay back, perfectly till, gazing up at
the smoke.

"Bless 'em!" he said softly. "That's trouble to-morrow morning then--
not to-night. Well, have you told Dellow and Lynton?"

"No; but Mr Briscoe is telling my brother."

"Mr Briscoe, eh? Think he's siding with the men?"

"Oh, no: I'm sure he is not."

"I don't know," said the captain thoughtfully. "He jumped at that gold
to-day like a baby at sugar. I've always been a bit suspicious about
him, and now I see I've been right."

"What do you mean?" said Brace warmly.

"That chap's natural history has all been a cloak to screen him while he
has been gold-hunting. I would bet that he came up this river with us
in the hopes of finding that El Dorado place the Spaniards used to swear
by."

"Quite right," said Brace drily.

"That's it, my lad; but he won't find it here. It's in quite another
place."

"Indeed! Do you know?" said Brace eagerly.

"Oh, yes, I know. It's in the moon. Well, let's hear what Sir Humphrey
thinks."

"Hist, captain," whispered the latter, almost at the same moment.

"Yes, sir. What do you think of it all?" asked the captain.

"It is horrible," whispered Sir Humphrey. "These men must be brought to
reason."

"Don't you flurry yourself about that, sir," said the skipper grimly.
"I'm going to have a few words with my two bulldogs, just to put them up
to what's going on, and then we shall just keep quiet and take no notice
of anything till the lads begin. Then I shall let Dellow and Lynton
loose at 'em, holding myself in reserve. That will settle 'em. But if
we did seem to be getting the worst of it you three gentlemen might come
and lend us a hand."

"And all be ready armed," said Sir Humphrey, "as you three will be."

The captain chuckled softly.

"Armed