ok at his patients before dinner. It seemed that there was somebody
with him, for a kind, though somewhat pompous, voice remarked upon the
scantiness of accommodation, and the "necessity--the absolute necessity"
of complying with the King's Regulations.

Honest Vickers, though agonized for the safety of his child, would not
abate a jot of his duty, and had sternly come to visit the sick men,
aware as he was that such a visit would necessitate his isolation from
the cabin where his child lay. Mrs. Vickers--weeping and bewailing
herself coquettishly at garrison parties--had often said that "poor dear
John was such a disciplinarian, quite a slave to the service."

"Here they are," said Pine; "six of 'em. This fellow"--going to the
side of Rex--"is the worst. If he had not a constitution like a horse, I
don't think he could live out the night."

"Three, eighteen, seven, four," muttered Rex; "dot and carry one. Is
that an occupation for a gentleman? No, sir. Good night, my lord, good
night. Hark! The clock is striking nine; five, six, seven, eight! Well,
you've had your day, and can't complain."

"A dangerous fellow," says Pine, with the light upraised. "A very
dangerous fellow--that is, he was. This is the place, you see--a regular
rat-hole; but what can one do?"

"Come, let us get on deck," said Vickers, with a shudder of disgust.

Rufus Dawes felt the sweat break out into beads on his forehead. They
suspected nothing. They were going away. He must warn them. With a
violent effort, in his agony he turned over in the bunk and thrust out
his hand from the blankets.

"Hullo! what's this?" cried Pine, bringing the lantern to bear upon it.
"Lie down, my man. Eh!--water, is it? There, steady with it now"; and he
lifted a pannikin to the blackened, froth-fringed lips. The cool draught
moistened his parched gullet, and the convict made a last effort to
speak.

"Sarah Purfoy--to-night--the prison--MUTINY!"

The last word, almost shrieked out, in the sufferer's desperate efforts
to articulate, recalled the wandering senses of John Rex. "Hush!" he
cried. "Is that you, Jemmy? Sarah's right. Wait till she gives the
word."

"He's raving," said Vickers.

Pine caught the convict by the shoulder. "What do you say, my man? A
mutiny of the prisoners!"

With his mouth agape and his hands clenched, Rufus Dawes, incapable of
further speech, made a last effort to nod assent, but his head fell upon
his breast; the next moment, the