here will probably be a row
afterward, but I will back you up by saying that what you did was done
by my advice. And now, good night! I feel a trifle cooler than I did,
and hope I shall be able to--Hallo! Listen! Did you hear anything?"

CHAPTER SEVEN.

ATTACKED BY PIRATES.

We both halted and listened intently, Monroe with one foot on the top
step of the companion, on his way below.

"What did you think you heard?" I questioned in a half-whisper.

"Well, I can scarcely say," was the low-spoken reply. "As a matter of
fact, I am not sure that I heard anything. I am beginning to think that
Kennedy's stupid talk must have affected us all aft here, more or less,
but it certainly seemed to me that while I was bidding you good night
just now I caught the faintest suggestion of--Ah! by Jove! there it is
again. Did you catch it?"

"Yes," I said, "unless--But no; I don't believe it was imagination. I
thought I heard a sound like the groaning of an oar against a thole pin,
some distance off in that direction," with a flourish of my hand toward
the east.

"Yes," agreed Monroe; "that describes the sound exactly. Surely
Kennedy's apprehensions cannot have been well-founded, after all, can
they?"

"Don't know in the least," I returned; "but I guess we shall, very soon
now. Meanwhile, since it must be obvious to you that I cannot possibly
leave the deck at this juncture, perhaps you will have the goodness to
slip down below and do that key-turning trick you suggested to me just
now."

"Sure! I will," answered the parson. "It was my advice, and I will
take the responsibility of carrying it out," and he vanished down the
companion way.

As he disappeared I went down the poop ladder at a run, hurried forward,
and made my way to the forecastle head, where I found the look-out
leaning against the guard rail with his arms folded and his chin sunk
upon his chest. He was not asleep, for as he heard the light patter of
my shoes upon the ladder he straightened himself and turned to see who
was coming; but I had a very shrewd suspicion that the stillness of the
night had induced in him a condition very much the reverse of alertness.

"Is that Johnson?" I demanded sharply.

"No, sir," he replied. "I'm Maguire."

"Then, Maguire," I said, "I am afraid you have not been keeping quite so
wideawake as you ought, considering that it's your look-out. For
instance, have you heard any unusual sounds, such as you ought