Dumlow. Then aloud--"Hi! Bob, lad, what's
to be done?"

"'Bout what?" came back from the wheel.

"Air we to let 'em pitch us overboard, or air we to jyne?"

"Jyne," growled Bob Hampton.

"Jyne it is, messmet," said Dumlow, in his low growling tone. "Here,
unlash these blessed ropes, they're a-cuttin' into my arms like
hooroar."

"And you'll join us too, Barney?" said Jarette.

"I does same as my two mates," said Blane. "I arn't going to be pitched
overboard if they arn't. Share and share alike, says I. Fair play's my
motto, and no favour. Here, cast off all these here lashins. What
d'yer want to tie a fellow up so tight for?"

"Take off the ropes," said Jarette, in a voice full of triumph, and I
could hear the rustling and rattling noise made as the lines were
untied, and directly after Dumlow's voice, saying--

"Here, give 's a drop o' summat; I'm as dry inside as a biscuit-bag."

And my lips and throat felt dry too with excitement, while a strange
feeling of despair came over me. Walters, Bob Hampton, Dumlow, and
Blane all turned traitors. What was to become of the poor passengers,
the officers, and myself?

There was only one way out of the difficulty, and that was to join the
prisoners in the cabin.

But how?

I lay listening. The men were talking loudly, and I soon made out that
drink was going round; but all was still as death now in the saloon and
cabins. Their occupants were evidently waiting to see what would be
done, and listening to the proceedings on deck.

"How can I get to them?--How can I get to them?" I kept on saying to
myself.

The darkness would favour me if I crept down, but the places were so
guarded that there was not the most remote chance of my getting past the
sentries.

I felt more despondent than ever, as I lay listening to the faint
creaking of the yards when they yielded gently to the wind. There was
no chance whatever of my joining my friends, and I was about to resign
myself to my fate, when I had a bright flash of hope. I could see my
way through the darkness. There was light ahead--mental light--and I
determined to dare the peril and act at once, if I could; if not, as
soon as the men below had dispersed.

Unfortunately I had to wait some time and listen, hardly daring to stir
for fear of being heard or seen, for there were three lanterns stood
about the deck, shedding their feeble light around, and now and then
looking brighter, and showing me the