, you're not going to
permit this, are you? I'm sure Jack Jepson is honest and that he is
faithfully warning us. Don't let him be put down this way. Ask him what
he means by a plot!"

"Oh, Alice!" protested her sister. "At a time like this--when we may all
be drowned!"

"We'll all be drowned worse, maybe, if Jack's advice isn't taken. What
is it?" she asked, appealing to the old sailor. "What is the plot you
spoke of?"

"Ask him?" cried the old salt, pointing an accusing finger at the
captain. "Ask him, and if he doesn't tell you, I will. Talk about a
mutiny! It wouldn't be half as bad as his plot for getting possession of
this vessel."

"What's that!" cried Captain Brisco, starting forward. "You dare accuse
me----"

"Yes, you and Hen Lacomb!" cried Jack, who seemed to have acquired a new
boldness. "I charge you with plotting to make a fizzle of the shipwreck
these picture people planned. You were going to pretend the vessel was
sinking, before the time set for the pictures, and you were going to get
them to abandon the schooner. Then you and Lacomb were going to come
back to the ship later, take her to some secret port, fit her out again
and use her for your own purposes.

"That's the plot! That's what I overheard you and Lacomb plannin', and
when you suspected I knew, you thought I'd be better off in the sea.
That's how I happened to go overboard. I was thrown! That's what I
charge you with. Deny it if ye dare!" and he pointed an accusing finger
at the two men. "You threw me overboard, Hen Lacomb! And Captain Brisco
planned to have you do it!"

Captain Brisco appeared to struggle with some emotion. His face went red
and white by turns. He seemed unable to speak. But at last he choked
out:

"What! You dare say that to me. You accuse me----!"

"Yes, and I have the proof!" cried Jack. "Here's the agreement you made
Lacomb sign. You were afraid to trust to him unless he made a promise
in writing, and here it is. I found it in the secret compartment in your
cabin. Your cabin that used to be mine in the old _Mary Ellen_. That's
how I made sure this ship was the old one I used to serve on, made over.
I found this agreement! It's the proof of what I say. Deny it if you
can."

"Why--why--" stammered the captain. "Do you dare--" but it seemed he
could not get any farther. He glanced at Hen Lacomb who stood near him.
A meaning look passed between the two men, and Hen started edging around
toward Jack Jepson.

"F