nts, it was a mystery which Mr Vanslyperken could
not solve; at first, he thought that he would allow Smallbones to come
into the cabin and get a loaded pistol ready for him. The words, "But
the corporal," which were cut short, proved to him that the corporal was
no party to the affair; yet it was strange that the ship's company could
have concealed the lad without the corporal's knowledge. Vanslyperken
walked and walked, and thought and thought; at last he resolved to go
down into his cabin, pretend to go to bed, lock his door, which was not
his custom, and see if they would attempt to come in. He did so, the
corporal was dismissed, and at twelve o'clock his door was tried and
tried again; but being fast, the party retreated. Vanslyperken waited
till two bells to ascertain if any more attempts would be made; but none
were, so he rose from his bed, where he had thrown himself with his
clothes on, and, opening the door softly, crept upon deck. The night
was very warm, but there was a light and increasing breeze and the
cutter was standing in and close to the shore to make a long board upon
next tack. Vanslyperken passed the man at the helm, and walked aft to
the taffrail; he stood up on the choak to ascertain what way she was
making through the water, and he was meditating upon the best method of
proceeding. Had he known where Smallbones' hammock was hung, he would
have gone down with the view of ascertaining the fact; but with a crew
so evidently opposed to him, he could not see how even the ascertaining
that Smallbones was on board would be productive of any good
consequences. The more Vanslyperken thought, the more he was puzzled.
The fact is, that he was between the horns of a dilemma; but the devil,
who always helps his favourites, came to the aid of Mr Vanslyperken.
The small boat was, as usual, hoisted up astern, and Mr Vanslyperken's
eyes were accidentally cast upon it. He perceived a black mass lying on
the thwarts, and he examined it more closely: he heard snoring; it was
one of the ship's company sleeping there against orders. He leant over
the taffrail, and putting aside the great coat which covered the party,
he looked attentively on the face--there was no doubt it was Smallbones
himself. From a knowledge of the premises, Vanslyperken knew at once
that the lad was in his power.

The boat, after being hauled up with tackles, was hung by a single rope
at each davit. It was very broad in proportion t