rward against the
gray luminosity of the beaten water.

So concealed, if it could be called concealment, in the darkness of
the schooner, he saw four figures go over the side, and heard them
fumbling in the dinghy. They pushed off gently and rowed away in
the direction of the island, amid the muffled click of oars. Before
proceeding but a few yards the boat was lost to him in the welter
of steaming water and all-enveloping blackness.

Trask suffered from a chill, but he remained where he was,
wondering what could, or should, be done. Jarrow must be warned.
The sky now turned lighter, being relieved of its burdened clouds,
and the rain began to fall off, until it was merely a gentle
trickle.

Dripping like a water spaniel returning to the shore, Trask turned
in to the door of the main cabin, planning to rid himself of his
wet clothing, get into some dry garments, and call Jarrow.

As he felt his way into the deeper gloom he heard a movement close
at hand, and stopped, leaning against the bulkhead, just abaft of
the galley. He saw that the light from outside marked the cabin
door as a great rectangle in which a moving form could easily be
seen from the inside.

"Who's that?" came a whisper.

"Who are you?" demanded Trask, whispering, but more boldly, and
with something of defiance in his tone.

"Doc Bird, Mr. Trask," came the answer. "Fo' the lan' sake, what
yo' all doin' out in the rain, man?"

"Keep quiet," said Trask, unpleasantly aware of rivulets racing
down his heels. He followed the bulkhead straight aft, conscious
that Bird was in the doorway of the cook's room, past Dinshaw's
room, to the door of Jarrow's, which he opened softly.

"Captain Jarrow!" he called, in a low voice. "Captain Jarrow!"

There was no reply. He listened for the regular breathing of the
sleeping captain. Then he went inside and felt along Jarrow's bunk.
The sheet was rumpled and thrown back but Jarrow was not there.

CHAPTER X

CAPTAIN JARROW ADMITS HE IS SUSPICIOUS OF PETH

Trask went to his room at once, and stripping off his wet pajamas,
dressed hurriedly. His discovery that Jarrow was missing seemed to
verify his suspicions that the captain was not playing fair. His
absence from his room was the most alarming thing which had
happened yet aboard the _Nuestra_, and, as Trask saw it, the fact
pointed to a betrayal of trust.

But the young man decided he would withhold any decision regarding
the captain until the l