terpose any further objections. It would have
been of little moment if he had, for, on the high seas, the ship's
commander is the sole judge of what is to be done.

Even below decks, going through the electric-lighted passage and
cabin, Tom and Hank made their way with not a little difficulty. They
paused, at last, before the starboard stateroom door, and Tom fitted
the key in the lock.

Jasper, the man locked within, faced them with affrighted gaze.

"We're going to the bottom?" he demanded, hoarsely, tremulously. His
very evident terror gave the young skipper a new idea.

"Are you prepared to go to the bottom, Jasper?" demanded Halstead.

"Am I fit to die, do you mean?" asked the man, with a strange, sickly
grin. "No, sir; I'm not. At least, not until I've cleared myself by
telling a few truths."

"Come out into the cabin, man," ordered Halstead, leading him. "Now,
sit down, and I'll get your handcuffs off."

The young captain of the "Restless" unlocked the irons about the
fellow's wrists. Jasper stretched his hands, flexing his wrists.

"Now, I can swim, anyway, though I don't believe it will do much
good," he declared.

"No; it won't do much good," Halstead assented. "We're something more
than forty miles off the coast. But what do you want to say? What's on
your mind? Be quick, man, for we must be on deck again in a jiffy. I
don't want to lose my boat while I'm below with a rascal like you."

"I haven't always been a rascal," retorted Jasper, hanging his head.
"At least, I have been fairly straight, until the other day."

"What have you been doing for Dalton and Lemly?" demanded Tom
Halstead, fixing his gaze sternly on the frightened fellow.

"Never anything for Dalton," whined Jasper.

"Well, for Lemly, then?"

"Oh, I've been snooping about a bit, for two years or so, getting tips
for Dave Lemly."

"What has Lemly been smuggling in the 'Black Betty' all this time?"

"Diamonds," admitted Jasper, sullenly.

Tom Halstead felt like giving a great start, but controlled himself.

"Smuggling diamonds under Anson Dalton's orders, eh?" insisted the
young skipper.

"Yes; I reckon so."

"How did you come into our matter--as a guard and a traitor?"

"I was on hand when Mr. Seaton was getting his guards together,"
replied Jasper. "So was Dave Lemly's mate. The mate told me to jump in
and get my chance with the guard."

"What other orders did you have?"

"I was to watch my chance to do anything nast