time by a voice calling to them in a
subdued tone through the barrels.

Wilmore, who was the lightest sleeper, started up. "Who is that?" he
asked.

"It is I--Tom Jennings," was the answer. "Don't speak again, but push
out the barrel that stops the way into your crib there. I'll manage to
crawl in, I dare say, though I am a bit lame."

Wilmore saw there was something wrong. He complied literally with Tom's
request, and pushed the keg out in silence. Presently he heard the old
man making his way, stopping every now and then as if in pain. At last
there came the whisper again: "Pull the barrel back into its place, I've
got a lantern under my coat which I'll bring out when you've made all
fast."

Frank again obeyed his directions, having first enjoined silence on his
two companions, who were by this time wide awake. Then Jennings drew
out his lantern, and lighted it by the help of a flint and steel. As
the light fell on his face and figure, the boys could hardly suppress a
cry of alarm. His cheeks were as white as ashes, and in several places
streaked with clotted blood. His leg too was rudely bandaged from the
knee to the ankle, and it was only by a painful effort that he could
draw it after him.

"What's the matter, Tom?" exclaimed Frank. "How have you hurt your leg
in that manner?"

"Hush! Mr Frank. We mustn't speak above a whisper. There's pirates
on board. They've got possession of the ship."

"Pirates!" repeated Wilmore. "What, have we been attacked, and my
uncle--"

"He's safe, Mr Frank--at least I hope so. Look here. You remember
them foreign chaps as he brought aboard at Porto Prayo? It was all a
lie they told the cap'en, about their ship having been lost. They were
part of a crew of pirates--that's my belief, any way--as had heard
Captain Wilmore was short-handed, and wanted to get possession of his
ship. They was no sooner aboard than they made friends with some of the
worst of our hands--Andy and White and O'Hara and the rest on 'em--and I
make no doubt persuaded them to join 'em. About ten o'clock last night,
when the men were nearly all in their berths, worn out with their work
during the gale, these foreigners crept up on deck, cut down and pitched
overboard half a dozen of our chaps as were on deck, and then clapped
down the hatches."

"That was what we heard, then," remarked Gilbert. "Were you on deck,
Tom?"

"Yes, sir, I was, and got these two cuts over the head and le