out, Joe Cross's frank
countenance was quite innocent of guile and he was speaking exactly as
he felt.

But Rodd was not at rest, and in the calm still watch that followed,
with every one on the look-out and ready to imagine that each
phosphorescent flash in the sea meant the moving upwards of the uncanny
enemy, Rodd waited till all was still and restful and they seemed likely
to be undisturbed, to make his way to Joe Cross's side and get him
alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

QUERY--A COWARD?

Joe had stationed himself on the larboard bow with his elbows resting
upon the bulwark and his chin in his hands, gazing straight away to sea,
his eyes fixed a little to the left of the dazzling path of light that
extended from the moon to the schooner.

So intent was he upon something he fancied he saw, that he did not hear
Rodd's approach, and started violently upon being touched.

"All right, sir; not asleep," he cried. "Oh, it's you, Mr Rodd! I
fancied that it was the skipper, who thought he had caught me napping.
Just you look yonder, sir. You are coming fresh to it. I have been
staring till the little flashes of light make my eyes swim. Now then,
just you look about half a cable's length left of that line of light,
and see if you can't see something breaking water there."

Rodd gazed intently in the direction indicated for some little time
without speaking.

"See anything, sir?" said Joe at last. "No."

"That'll do then, sir. It was my fancy. Well, we are having a quiet
night of it, sir. No more signs of that old sea bogy, and like enough
we shan't get a squint at it again."

"I don't suppose we shall now, Joe."

"Sleepy, sir?"

"Not a bit, Joe. Here, I want to speak to you about that thing."

"I am listening, sir. Talk away. Rather queer, warn't it, to come upon
a thing like that just when you didn't expect it?"

"Yes, Joe; and you said something about my not being frightened."

"Yes, sir. You quite capped me."

"Stop a minute, Joe. I want to say something to you."

"All right, sir," cried the sailor, looking wonderingly at the lad, who
was speaking to him in a husky impressive tone.

But Rodd remained speechless, and it was the sailor who broke the
silence.

"I'm a-listening, sir. Heave ahead."

"Yes," cried Rodd desperately. "Look here, Joe; were you making fun of
me?"

"Fun of you? No, sir. It was only my way, just to make things a bit
more cheery, for every one on deck seem