nce, man, silence!" said Vanslyperken.

"Hope no offence, Mr Lieutenant," replied the man, who knew who his
fare was.

The boat pulled alongside of the Yungfrau, and Vanslyperken paid his
unusual fare, and stepped on the deck. He went down below, and had the
precaution to summon Smallbones to bring lights aft. The word was
passed along the lower deck, and Vanslyperken sat down in the dark,
awaiting the report that Smallbones could not be found.

Snarleyyow went up to his master, and rubbed his cold nose against his
hand, and then, for the first time, it occurred to Vanslyperken, that in
his hurry to leave the vessel he had left the dog to the mercy of his
enemies. During the time that Vanslyperken waited for the report of the
lights, he passed over in his mind the untoward events which had taken
place--the loss of the widow's good-will, the loss of Corporal Van
Spitter, who was adrift in the Zuyder Zee, the loss of five thousand
pounds through the dog, and strange to say, what vexed him more, the
loss of the dog's eye; and when he thought of all these things, his
heart was elated, and he rejoiced in the death of Smallbones, and no
longer felt any compunction. But a light is coming aft, and
Vanslyperken is waiting the anticipated report. It is a solitary
purser's dip, as they are termed at sea, emitting but feeble rays; and
Vanslyperken's eyes are directed to the door of the cabin to see who
carries it. To his horror, his dismay, it is brought in by the drowned
Smallbones, who, with a cadaverous, and, as he supposes, unearthly face
and vacant look, drawls out, "It's a-blowed out twice, sir, with the
wind."

Vanslyperken started up, with his eyes glaring and fixed. There could
be no mistake. It was the apparition of the murdered lad, and he fell
back in a state of unconsciousness.

"You've a-got it this time," said Smallbones, chuckling as he bent over
the body of the lieutenant with his purser's dip, and perceived that he
was in a state of insensibility.

Had Mr Vanslyperken had the courage to look over the stern of the
cutter when he re-ascended on the deck, he would have discovered
Smallbones hanging on by the rudder chains; for had the fog not been so
thick, Mr Vanslyperken would have perceived that at the time that he
cut Smallbones adrift it was slack water, and the cutter was lying
across the harbour. Smallbones was not, therefore, carried away by the
tide, but being a very fair swimmer, had gained