"I have a better plan than that," replied Lord Hastings. "I'll blow the
lock off. Stand back out of range of fire from the door. Davis is likely
to shoot through it."

Frank did as commanded, and drawing his revolver, Lord Hastings placed
the muzzle against the lock.

There was a flash, a loud report and Lord Hastings leaped quickly
backward. And it was well that he did so; for a second later there came
a second report and a bullet sped through the thin door and imbedded
itself in the wall beyond.

Standing well to one side, Lord Hastings thrust out a foot and kicked
the door open.

"Better come out, Davis," he said quietly.

"No, thanks," was the reply. "I'll get the first man who shows his head
in the doorway."

Lord Hastings considered this point carefully. Then he said to Frank:

"Well, we've got the door open, but I don't see that we are any better
off. We can't go after him. Now what, eh?"

An idea struck Frank.

"You stand guard until I come back, sir," he said, and made his way aft.

Lord Hastings stood his ground.

Frank was back in a moment and again took his stand on the opposite side
of the door from Lord Hastings. He held something in his hand, and a
long snake-like object seemed to wiggle along behind him.

"What have you there?" demanded Lord Hastings in some surprise.

"Hose, sir," replied Frank calmly.

"And what are you going to do with it?"

"Rout Davis out, sir."

Lord Hastings chuckled.

"I am afraid you won't have much success," he replied. "It's a poor
Englishman who can't stand a little cold water."

"Maybe he won't like hot water, though, sir," replied Frank.

Again Lord Hastings looked surprised.

"Oho," he said at length. "Now I see what you are about. Going to scald
him a little, eh?"

"That's the idea, sir. I have the engineer's word that this hose will
throw a pretty strong stream. Once it hits Davis he'll be glad to come
out."

"All right," said Lord Hastings. "Turn it on."

Still standing out of the line of fire, Frank, taking the hose well back
from the nozzle, thrust it through the door and turned it on.

A thin vapor rose and the hose grew hot to Frank's touch.

"Pretty hot," said Lord Hastings. "Now if you can just locate him with
it, you----"

A cry of pain interrupted him and there was the sound of hurried
footsteps within.

"Got him," cried Frank gleefully.

He stepped into the open doorway, and as he did so, Davis raised a
revolver and his f