n during the next
minute, for there was the clanking of irons, and he saw Humpy Dee and
his five companions marched up from below to be called to where he was
standing with Nic.

The poachers looked repellent enough as they followed Humpy Dee's
example, and scowled at the pair who had come up from the sick bay, and
seemed to receive little sympathy from those who were looking on. Then
there was an order given by one of the officers, and the crew of the
boat climbed quickly in, while the marines came up behind the prisoners.

"They're going to take us ashore," thought Pete excitedly, and the idea
had hardly been grasped, before a couple of old hats were handed to him
and his companion by the sergeant of marines.

"They're going to put uz with Humpy and that lot," said Pete to himself
excitedly; "and I must speak now."

He spoke. It was hurriedly and blunderingly done, and the officer whom
he addressed looked at him frowningly.

"What!" he cried; "this man is not one of you--one of the gang taken
that night?"

"No, master; he's a gentleman, and took by mistake."

Humpy Dee's eyes flashed, and he burst into a coarse laugh.

"Silence, you scoundrel!--How dare you?" cried the officer angrily.

"Couldn't help it, master," growled Humpy. "Make a horse laugh to hear
such gammon."

"What! Do you say that what he tells me is not true?"

"It is true, master," cried Pete, "every word--"

"All lies," snarled the poacher savagely. "He was in the fight, and got
hurt. He's one of us. That Pete Burge peached on us, and brought the
sailor Jacks on us; and he wants to get out of it to let us go alone.
Lies, captain; all lies."

"What do you say, my men?" said the officer sternly, turning to Humpy's
companions.

"Same as he does," cried the pressed men in chorus.

"And you?" cried the officer, turning to Nic. "Are you one of this
fellow's comrades?"

"No, master, he aren't," cried Pete; "he aren't, indeed. He's nought to
me. He's--"

"Silence, sir!" roared the officer. "You, sir," he continued, turning
to Nic, "speak out. Are you one of this fellow's comrades?"

Nic looked at him blankly, and there was silence on the deck, as the
various groups stood there in the burning sunshine.

"Well, sir, why don't you answer?" cried the officer.

Nic's answer was in dumb-show, for, poor fellow, he did not grasp a
word. He knew that the man by his side had been with him a great deal,
and nursed and helped him, sp