reaking over the waves as hours later
Hughes regained his position, gently and cautiously. Tired with
watching he fell fast asleep, and it was broad daylight when he was
aroused by Captain Weber shaking him by the arm.

"Rouse and bitt, my lad," said the old seaman, laughing. "The bare
planks seem to suit your humour. We want your place for breakfast."

There was no lack of water round about them, and while he made his hasty
toilet the soldier determined on the course to be taken. An attempt to
possess themselves of the gold would certainly be made that night, and,
as Phillips had said, Captain Weber was not the man to give it up
quietly, "I have a few words for you, Captain Weber, before breakfast,"
he said, as that officer passed near him.

"Heave ahead, my hearty, I'm not pressed for time," was the reply.

"Have you noticed how sullen the men seemed yesterday, how apathetic
they were when the ship went about?" asked Hughes.

"It is the natural consequence of this state of relaxed discipline and
idleness," replied the master.

"One more query. Have you not gold in these cases, in some of them at
least. Are we not nearing Madagascar?"

Captain Weber turned sharply round, looking the speaker full in the
face, and paused a moment as if in astonishment, ere he replied.

"Yes, I have gold dust in some of them, and if yonder ship had only
stood on for an hour longer, the dust might have served me to fit out
another vessel, and give me another chance; but why do you ask?"

"I lay awake nearly all last night. You know I have always thrown
myself before the entrance to the little cabin."

The seaman nodded his head.

"Well, about four o'clock this morning, I heard two of the men talking.
Yonder red-bearded, blear-eyed fellow who is whittling a stick as he
whistles, was the principal speaker."

"Ah, Gough," replied the master, "he is the worst character on board; it
was Gough tried to persuade the men to break into the spirit-room, when
tired of the work at the pumps. I can believe anything of him."

"Well, he held out a dazzling picture of life in Madagascar. He talked
of the warm welcome given by the Queen of the island to the English, he
painted a life of luxury and ease, instead of one of toil and privation,
saying we might sight the island any moment."

"The scoundrel!" muttered the old master between his clenched teeth, "I
see it all now."

"He told of the gold on the raft, and how with it they m