said slowly. "But he was on this
vessel and he can't have got off. Therefore he must be here."

"There is one place we haven't looked, sir," said Frank.

"Where?" demanded Lord Hastings.

"Your cabin, sir."

"He would hardly have sought refuge there," said Lord Hastings.

"There is no telling, sir," replied Frank. "We may as well have a look."

"Yes, we may as well have a look," repeated Lord Hastings.

He led the way forward again and pulled up before the door of his cabin,
which was closed.

"Now I could have sworn I left this door open," said Lord Hastings.

He laid a hand on the knob and turned it; but the door would not open.

"Hm-m-m," muttered Lord Hastings. "Somebody is in there all right. Guess
it must be our friend Davis." He raised his voice and called: "Davis."

There was no reply and Lord Hastings repeated his call. Still there was
no response.

Lord Hastings was beginning to grow angry.

"Davis!" he called a third time, and when there was no answer, he
shouted: "You come out of there this minute or it will be the worse for
you. There is no use pretending you do not hear me. Come out!"

This time Lord Hastings drew an answer.

"Thank you, sir, but I shall remain where I am," came back in Davis'
voice. "It's very comfortable in here."

"By Jove! He's a pretty cool customer," muttered Lord Hastings to Frank.

"Yes, he's cool enough," responded the lad, "and cold-blooded, too.
Shall we force the door, sir?"

"I don't like to do that," replied Lord Hastings, "but I am afraid it
will be necessary. I want to get that fellow tied up safely." He raised
his voice again. "Davis," he said, "if you don't open that door
immediately, I'll break it down."

"I wouldn't try it," was Davis' response. "I have appropriated a pair of
your revolvers here and I'll have a shot at the first head that I see."

This reply threw Lord Hastings into some consternation. He turned to
Frank.

"There is no use any one getting hurt on the fellow's account," he said.
"He's safe enough in there. Guess we may as well leave him."

"We'll have to get him some time, sir," said Frank. "We might as well do
it now and have it over with. Two of us should land him without any
trouble."

"You mean one and a half," replied Lord Hastings, smiling. "Don't forget
you are hardly whole with that wound on your head."

"I think I can prove a little better than a half, anyhow," Frank smiled
back. "Shall we break the door in, sir?"