ard. The native crew are
in a dangerous state of excitement, and I am sure they will attempt to
liberate Mr. Carr before morning. Both the captain and Chard are more
than half-drunk; and the chief engineer tells me that for some reason
they have given liquor to the firemen and stokers, who have set him at
defiance. I fear, I fear greatly, miss, that some calamity may occur on
board this ship to-night. Therefore I beg of you to keep to your cabin."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Oliver. We certainly did intend to go on deck
and remain some hours, but shall not do so now. But tell me, please,
have you seen Mr. Carr? Is he well?"

"Quite well. I saw him a few minutes ago, and he bade me tell you to
have no fear for him. I am now again going to Captain Hendry to ask him,
for his own and the ship's safety, to set Mr. Carr free. If he refuses I
cannot say what will happen."

Tessa put her little hand upon the mate's huge, rough paw, and looked
into his honest, troubled eyes through the darkness.

"It is good of you," she whispered. "Oh, do try, Mr. Oliver, try your
best to make the captain set him at liberty."

"Indeed I will, miss," replied the mate earnestly, as he pressed her
hand, and went softly out into the main cabin. He stood by the table for
a minute or two, thinking with wrinkled brow of the best way to approach
the captain and bring him to reason. Presently he sat down, took his
pipe from his pocket, filled it, and began to smoke.

A heavy step sounded on the companion steps, and Chard descended
somewhat unsteadily, and calling for the second steward--who was in the
pantry--to come to him, brushed past the chief officer, and went into
his own cabin.

The second steward--a dirty, evil-faced little cockney named Jessop,
whom Oliver and his fellow officers particularly abhorred--at once
followed the supercargo in to his cabin, which was immediately closed.
In less than five minutes it opened again, and Jessop came out and
returned to the pantry, and presently Oliver heard the rattle of cups
and saucers as the man made preparations for the coffee which was always
served to Hendry, Chard, Carr, and Tessa and her attendant, and the
officer on watch at nine o'clock every evening.

"Would you like a cup of coffee, sir, as you have not turned in?"

It was Jessop who was speaking, and Oliver looked up in some wonder,
for the man knew that he disliked him, and indeed he (Oliver) had once
smartly cuffed him for creating