ive or six accomplices in the gangway, besides
the two women guarding Lord Bakefield and his daughter. Come on."

A little farther, they stopped in front of a large tarpaulin, still
soaked with water, which covered one of those frames on which the
passengers' bags and trunks are stacked. He lifted the tarpaulin and
slipped under it, beckoning to Simon to lie down beside him.

"Look," he said.

The frame contained a skylight protected by stout bars, through which
they saw down into the long gangway skirting the cabins immediately
below the deck. In this gangway a man was seated with two women beside
him. When Simon's eyes had become accustomed to the semidarkness which
showed objects somewhat vaguely, he distinguished the man's features
and recognized Lord Bakefield, bound to a chair and guarded by the two
viragoes whom Rolleston had placed in charge of Isabel. One of these
women held in her heavy hand, which pressed on Lord Bakefield's
throat, the two ends of a cord passed round his neck. It was clear
that a sudden twist of this hand would be enough to strangle the
unfortunate nobleman in the space of a few seconds.

CHAPTER VII

THE FIGHT FOR THE GOLD

"Silence!" whispered Antonio, who divined Simon's feeling of revolt.

"Why?" asked Simon. "They can't hear."

"They can. Most of the panes are missing."

Simon continued, in the same low tone:

"But where's Miss Bakefield?"

"This morning I saw her, from here, on that other chair, bound like
her father."

"And now?"

"I don't know. But I suppose Rolleston has taken her into his cabin."

"Where's that?"

"He's occupying three or four, those over there."

"Oh," gasped Simon, "it's horrible! And there's no other way out?"

"None."

"Still, we can't. . . ."

"The least sound would be Miss Bakefield's undoing," Antonio declared.

"But why?"

"I am sure of it. . . . All this is thought out. . . . That threat of
death to her father; it's blackmail. Besides. . . ."

One of the women moved to a cabin door, listened and returned,
sniggering:

"The chit's defending herself. The chief will have to employ strong
measures. You're resolved to go through with it, are you?"

"Of course!" said the other, nodding in the direction of her hand.
"Twenty quid extra for each of us: it's worth it! On the word of
command, pop! And there you are!"

The old man's face remained impassive. His eyes were closed; he
appeared to be asleep. Simon was distracted: