that of the
tomb.

The splashing of the falling fragments awoke them from their stupor, and
then the blue light of the Malabar struck out a bright pathway across
the sea, and they knew that they were safe.

* * * * *

On board the Malabar two men paced the deck, waiting for dawn.

It came at last. The sky lightened, the mist melted away, and then a
long, low, far-off streak of pale yellow light floated on the eastern
horizon. By and by the water sparkled, and the sea changed colour,
turning from black to yellow, and from yellow to lucid green. The man at
the masthead hailed the deck. The boats were in sight, and as they came
towards the ship, the bright water flashing from the labouring oars, a
crowd of spectators hanging over the bulwarks cheered and waved their
hats.

"Not a soul!" cried Blunt. "No one but themselves. Well, I'm glad
they're safe anyway."

The boats drew alongside, and in a few seconds Frere was upon deck.

"Well, Mr. Frere?"

"No use," cried Frere, shivering. "We only just had time to get away.
The nearest thing in the world, sir."

"Didn't you see anyone?"

"Not a soul. They must have taken to the boats."

"Then they can't be far off," cried Blunt, sweeping the horizon with his
glass. "They must have pulled all the way, for there hasn't been enough
wind to fill a hollow tooth with." "Perhaps they pulled in the wrong
direction," said Frere. "They had a good four hours' start of us, you
know."

Then Best came up, and told the story to a crowd of eager listeners. The
sailors having hoisted and secured the boats, were hurried off to the
forecastle, there to eat, and relate their experience between mouthfuls,
and the four convicts were taken in charge and locked below again.

"You had better go and turn in, Frere," said Pine gruffly. "It's no use
whistling for a wind here all day."

Frere laughed--in his heartiest manner. "I think I will," he said. "I'm
dog tired, and as sleepy as an owl," and he descended the poop ladder.
Pine took a couple of turns up and down the deck, and then catching
Blunt's eye, stopped in front of Vickers.

"You may think it a hard thing to say, Captain Vickers, but it's just
as well if we don't find these poor devils. We have quite enough on our
hands as it is."

"What do you mean, Mr. Pine?" says Vickers, his humane feelings getting
the better of his pomposity. "You would not surely leave the unhappy men
to