er took her below. I
was the last one except Johnson to climb up. He stood at the bow ready to
hitch on the tackles. But other men took his place, and as I went over
the rail Thompson came and shook my hand warmly.

"Sink me, Mr. Rolling, but you've had a time of it, hey?" he said. "How
are the men on the _Sovereign_? We've been standing along north and south
for six days, expecting to pick you up, and here you are. It's all that
Trunnell's doings. I was for going ahead the day we missed you, but that
big-headed little rascal insisted on hunting for you after seeing you
leave the wreck. Where's Jim and Phillippi, and the rest?"

The sincerity of his welcome had taken me off my guard, and I found
myself standing there shaking his hand. Then I recovered myself.

"It's a pity Captain Thompson missed this ship the day she sailed," I
said quietly. "We were informed the night before that he'd be with us. It
might have saved the lives of some good men."

He let go my hand and smiled strangely at me, his hooked nose working,
and his eyes taking that hard glint I knew so well.

"So you were really waiting for a man you'd never seen, hey? Was that
the lay of it? And when I came aboard and said I was Thompson, you
gulped down the bait, hey, you bleeding fool. Who the dickens do you
think I am, anyhow?"

"I happen to know that you pass by the name of Jackwell," I said. "Here,
Chips," I called, but the carpenter was already at my side. "What name
did Jim give the captain, and what was his business?"

"'Tis no use av makin' any more av it, cap'n. We know all about ye. Th'
best thing ye can do is to step down from the quarter-deck."

"Trunnell," said Thompson, with his drawl, "what d'ye think of these men
coming back clean daft?"

The mate was close beside us, giving orders for the disposal of the small
boat, and he turned and clasped my hand for the first time.

"Mighty glad t' see ye both back. I suppose the rest are aboard the
_Sovereign_" said he, looking us over.

"And they come aboard with a tale that I'm some other man than Captain
Thompson; that I knew that he was coming, and got aboard before him and
went out in his place," said Jackwell. "Sink me, Trunnell, but I'm afeard
you'll have to put them in irons."

"That's quare enough," said the mate, with a smile. "Come below, Rolling,
and let's have yer yarn. You, too, Chips, ye'll need a nip of good stuff
as well. I'm sorry ye've turned up with a screw loose. All ri