tor.

"I fear yous are. Thry are your legs broke?" continued Pat, whose energy
of utterance gave a fair appearance to the deceit.

"Are you much hurt?" asked one of the persons who had by their presence
disturbed the conference.

"Very little," replied Uncle Nathan, who really felt the uncomfortable
effects of a knock on the knee he had received in his involuntary ascent
from the hold.

"Bad luck to 't, but 'twas a wicked fall!" said Pat, fearful that his
conscientious companion would expose the deceit.

"Can I render you any assistance?" asked one of the intruders, who were
none other than Maxwell and Vernon, whom we left on their way to the
main deck.

"Thank ye, I don't need any," replied Uncle Nathan, hobbling off,
accompanied by Pat.

"Now, is the coast clear?" said Vernon, who carried a lantern he had
borrowed from the mate.

"All clear; but put out that light,--the engineers will notice us,"
replied Maxwell.

"But I can't find my way into the hold without it. There is no danger of
the engineers. They are all asleep on the forward deck."

"What do you want in the hold?" asked Maxwell, in an irritable tone.

"I want to hide this bag of money," replied Vernon, in a whisper. "As
soon as the covey finds he has been picked, they will search the boat;
and my character is not likely to save me from the indignity of being
obliged to open my trunk, and turn out my pockets."

"It is bad business, and I wish you had not done this thing. As I told
you before, _I_ have nothing to do with it. I feel myself rather above
common robbery."

"Self-esteem! But you came down on your own business, not on mine. You
can return, and not trouble yourself any further," growled Vernon.

"I need your help, and will pay you for it."

"Very well, then, wait till _this_ job is finished."

"Go on! I will follow," replied Maxwell, finding remonstrance vain.

After a careful scrutiny of the premises, Vernon concealed his lantern
under his coat, and leaped into the hold, followed by Maxwell.

"Now," said Vernon, "I must put this bag into one of these boxes, to be
guarded by the spirits of the brave men whose bones repose in them."

"Are you mad, man? Would you open the coffins of the dead to hide your
ill-gotten gold?" exclaimed Maxwell, alarmed at the purpose of his
confederate.

"Why not? We need not disturb the bodies,--only open the outside box."

"Very well," said Maxwell, who felt how useless it was to oppose his
com