housand miles a minute--clear thinking, too--so even before
Gates spoke the second time I had seen through Tommy's ruse. Bless his
old scalp, I was a dog not to have taken him in the first place, now
that things were nearer equal. But I said hastily:

"Look sharp, Gates, I haven't been farther than here! They're in the
galley!--I'm rushing it!"

So I splintered the door and charged through, with the others tripping
over my heels. Then my revolver swung across and covered a crouching
form.

"Hands up," I commanded.

Although darker here, we could see a huge, partially clothed figure on
the floor, reclining very much as The Wounded Gladiator. Leaning above
him, with an arm passed beneath his shoulders, was another man.

"Hands up, you fool," I called again, ready to fire at the first
suspicious move. The man lowered his burden and turned. It was Tommy.

"You'll forgive me, Jack," he grinned. "We thought I heard you call--and
that was to be the signal, you know!"

We thought I heard you call!

"I know about that, you prince of liars. Who's this? But hold
him!--we're going on through!"

"You needn't," he said. "I took a speedy trip down the other passageway
while Gates went to you. There isn't a soul on board, except this poor
devil who's got a crack on the bean."

"It isn't possible," I cried. For, indeed, it was not possible, and we
hurried forward, leaving him as he was.

But a two-minute search revealed the truth of Tommy's words. There was
not a sign of anyone. The yacht was as absolutely deserted as if it had
been sailed by spirits--except, of course, the wretch in Tommy's charge.

"You're sure we've looked everywhere, Gates?" I asked, stunned at the
disappearance of Sylvia and mystified by the whole affair.

"Everywhere, sir. To tell the truth, Mr. Jack, a minute ago it was as
complete a mystery as I ever saw. But I understand it now. They've taken
to the small boats and escaped, sir. They've just sailed in close to
shore and done that during the night, sir; and all morning we've been
chasing a boat with nobody on it. I should have noticed the small boats
gone, if I hadn't been so sure the people were here."

I leaned against the wall too utterly disappointed to move, vaguely
wondering if this were another dream from which I should awake and find
the _Orchid_ sailing out ahead of us. But it was no dream. In dreams
one can not always know that one is dreaming, but there is never a
doubt of knowing whe