the floor then."

Bostock turned to the doctor, but the latter's eye was averted, and he
made no sign, nor spoke.

"All right," growled the old sailor, and he turned to Carey. "I won't
snore more'n I can help, sir," he said. "It aren't my fault."

"In with you all," said the beachcomber, roughly; "and look here, I'm
going to sit here a bit to finish my physic, so don't come out and
disturb me. My black pack used to come prowling round sometimes of a
night, but they never do now."

As he spoke he took out a revolver and cocked it, before laying it down
beside his tumbler of spirits with a meaning look.

"Are we to consider ourselves prisoners, sir?" said the doctor, speaking
at last.

"Dunno," was the reply, shortly given. "All depends. If you ride the
high horse I may tell my pack to set you ashore somewhere else, but if
you're civil--well, we shall see. Only just recollect this, and don't
argue. These are my islands all round here, and all that comes ashore's
mine. Now go to bed."

He threw himself back in his chair and raised the glass to his lips, and
without a word the three prisoners filed into the state-room, and the
door swung to and clicked behind them.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

They were in total darkness, but Bostock took out his match-box and
struck a light to apply to the lamp, which he coolly proceeded to
regulate, and then turned to wait for the doctor to speak.

Doctor Kingsmead was standing with the veins in his forehead swollen,
his teeth set, and his hands clenched.

"The dog--the brutal ruffian!" he said, as if talking to himself. "So
helpless. Quite at his mercy. Seemed like a coward and a cur."

"No, you didn't," said Carey, shortly. "We were taken by surprise, and
they're seven to one, and all armed."

The doctor turned to him sharply.

"Seven to one?" he said.

"Yes, I counted them; twenty black fellows and him."

"And threes into twenty-one goes seven times," growled Bostock.

"Yes, yes, seven to one," said the doctor, drawing a deep breath, "and
the ruffian has us at his mercy, for those black fellows would rush at
us at a word, like the black pack he calls them. It's plain enough they
have been within sight in a canoe, and reported to him what they saw.
The scoundrel has, no doubt, played the part of wrecker for years and
taken possession of every unfortunate vessel that has come ashore,
plundered and burnt it."

"Humph!" growled Bostock.

"What do you say?"