the hole which yawned above the steps. To this gap Chippy
crept, and thrust his head forward inch by inch until he was looking
into the deserted forecastle. He saw the men at once. They were
almost directly beneath him, kneeling on the floor, while one was
deftly slipping the cord which bound one of the stolen bales.

Chippy scarcely dared to breathe when he saw how close he was to the
thieves. 'If I could only get a look at 'em, I'd 'ook it,' he thought
to himself, and waited for their faces to be shown in the shine of the
lantern, whose slide was partly turned to give them light. But one
held the lantern while the other opened the bale, and the light showed
no more of them than the worker's hands, the latter tattooed like those
of a seaman.

Suddenly the scene changed with magic swiftness, and the pursuer became
the pursued. It happened simply enough. The man unfolding the bale
asked his companion a question. His voice was pitched in so low a
murmur that Chippy did not catch what was said, but he heard the second
man's reply. 'No, I 'ain't got it,' said he who held the lantern.

'Then we've left it in the boat,' rejoined the first speaker in louder
tones; and he sprang to his feet and shot up the crazy steps of the
companion as nimbly as a cat.

It was so swift, so sudden, that the man was out on the deck before the
scout, stretched at full length beside the companion-hatch, could get
to his feet. The man slipped along the deck as smartly as he had
swarmed up the companion, and Chippy was clean cut on from his boat.

What could he do? Nothing but sit tight and hope that his boat would
not be discovered in the gloom of the barquentine's shadow. Vain hope.
Scarce had it been formed than a savage growl of anger and surprise
broke the silence. His boat was discovered.

The man below heard his companion's cry. The dullest would have read
warning in it. He leapt to his feet, and bounded up the companion in
turn.

'Anything wrong?' he called in low tones.

'Here's another boat,' said the other.

'Another boat!' murmured the second thief, and scrambled swiftly along
the deck, and thrust his head over the side.

The two men were thunderstruck. A second boat! That meant someone
abroad of whose presence they had not dreamed.

'Was it there when we came?' asked the second man.

'Not it,' replied the discoverer; 'the painter's made fast round ours.'

'Then, whoever came in that boat is aboard now,'