, a whispering, as of orders what to do; and
Mark drew his dirk in an agony of desperation, wondering the while why
he did not rouse up the blacks to help him.

The moments seemed to be drawn out into minutes, the minutes to hours,
before he heard the soft patting of the men's bare feet over the deck.

Then they were about him, each seizing the side of the cask to hold it
down, and the blacks sprang up, ready to strike at those around.

"Yah!" growled Tom Fillot, fiercely; "it's court-martial for you."

At that moment there was a strong heave up of the hatch, but the attempt
was vain; and knowing that all had been discovered, a low growl arose,
and then, as if enraged beyond bearing at their failure, one of the men
below fired a shot upwards, one which passed through the bottom of the
cask, but did no harm to its holders, the only effect produced being the
trickling out of the water through a second hole.

"Shall we have it off now, sir, and nail down the hatch?"

"No," said Mark; "two of you open the cable tier, and hand out the
chain."

"Again, sir?" whispered Tom.

"Yes, man, quick!"

Fillot and Stepney seized the chain and brought the end forward.

"Ready, sir," cried the former, as the links rattled and clinked over
the deck; and they stood waiting for the cask to be removed for the
chain to be laid down in its place.

"Now then, in with it!" cried Mark.

"In with it, sir?"

"Yes; into the cask."

"Oh!" cried Tom Fillot, with an exultant cry, and the next moment the
chain was being rattled into the empty cask at a rapid rate, and in very
short time, a quarter of a ton was occupying the place of the water.

"I think that'll puzzle 'em now, sir," cried Tom; and Mark Vandean
breathed freely once again.

But there were the blacks to punish, and the men fell back while Mark
turned angrily upon the two culprits, who stood trembling before him
with the light from a lantern one of the men had fetched thrown full
upon their faces.

Only a short time before the big black had been an utter savage, but now
in this very brief space, though unable fully to comprehend the words
and ways of the English officers, he had grown to realise what
discipline and authority meant; and as he stood there before Mark, who
looked frowning and stern, he literally shivered, his eyes dropped, and
he stooped before the midshipman, as if expecting a blow. For he knew
that he had betrayed his trust, and that some punishment was