fficers are quick to exact instant obedience, and the
least show of rebellion or "back talk" is answered with a blow. But even
so, the evil face of the one-eyed seaman flitted through Mart's dreams
for many a night thereafter, although Birch seemed doubly respectful
toward the second mate, as indeed did all the crew.

CHAPTER VII

"WHERE'S PETERS?"

The _Seamew_ had passed through Balabac Strait and was standing out into
the reef-strewn South China Sea, on the last leg of her course, when it
happened.

That afternoon the diving suits and pumps had been broken out and put in
order, after which the grinning Kanakas and Jerry Smith had given Mart
and Bob some practical lessons in dressing up in the cumbersome
water-tight outfit, and in working the pumps. In the evening they had
sat up late with Captain Hollinger, talking rifles and ammunition, and
they were weary enough to sleep soundly.

Mart's porthole was open that night, as usual. He woke up suddenly to
find the setting moon streaming in across his face, and got up to hang a
towel across the open port, in order not to exclude the fresh air. As he
did so, he heard the ship's bell forward strike eight bells, and knew
that it was midnight.

There came a faint pad of bare feet forward--the watches being changed.
Then, as he stood for a moment gazing out at the moonlit sea, he heard
the deep voice of the second mate, Liverpool Peters, who had apparently
just taken charge of the deck.

"All right, Mr. Swanson. I'll keep a sharp eye on that chart.
Sou'-sou'-east by a half east it is."

Mart went sleepily back to bed and thought no more of it. He knew that
they were in dangerous waters, but the yacht had a splendid outfit of
charts and there was no danger for her among the coral reefs. He was
wakened at dawn, however, to find Bob pounding on his door.

"Hey, Mart!" came the voice of his chum excitedly. "Tumble out here."

Mart growled out an unintelligible reply, but Bob resumed his pounding,
so the wireless operator reflected that there must be "something doing."
Hastily flinging on his clothes, he opened the door and gained the deck.

"Well, what's up, Holly? Why, it's hardly dawn yet!"

"Shut up an' come along to the bridge!" exclaimed Bob. "Dad's up
there--Joe Swanson came an' roused him up just now. That's what woke me
up."

"Well, what's the matter?" demanded Mart vigorously. "We ain't struck a
reef, have we?"

"I'm not quite sure myself, Mart.