seemed a little matter to me. Indeed, I did not
understand the risk. I did not know how a fire so far forward could
affect the cabin.

A couple of minutes must have passed before I picked up the hat from
where it lay. As I hurried through the 'tweendecks some slight noise
or movement made me turn my head. Looking to my right. I saw the horsey
man, the stranger, rummaging quickly in the lockers of the Duke's cabin,
As I looked, I saw him snatch up something like a pocketbook or pocket
case, with a hasty "Ah" of approval. At the same moment, he saw me
watching him.

"Where's Mr. Scott?" he cried, darting out on me. "We may all blow up in
another moment."

"He's on deck," I said. "Hasn't he gone on deck?"

"On deck?" said the man. "Then on deck with you, too." He pushed me
up the hatch before him. "Quick," he cried. "Quick. There's Mr. Scott
forward. Get him on to the wharf.

He gave me a hasty shove forward, to where the whole company was working
in a cloud of smoke, passing buckets from hand to hand. A crowd of
Dutchmen had gathered on the wharf. Everybody was shouting. The scene
was confused like a bad dream. I caught sight of the pedlar man at the
gangway as the stranger thrust me forward. In the twinkling of an eye
the stranger passed something to him with the quick thrust known as the
thieves' pass. I saw it, for all my confusion. I knew in an instant that
he had stolen something. The pedlar person was an accomplice. As likely
as not the fire was a diversion. I rushed at the gangway. The pedlar was
moving quickly away with his hands in his pockets. It all happened in
a moment. As I rushed at the gangway, with some wild notion of stopping
the pedlar, the horsey man caught me by the collar.

"What," he said, in a loud voice. "Trying to desert, are you? You come
forward where the danger is." He ran me forward. He was as strong as a
bull.

"Mr. Jermyn," I cried. "Mr. Jermyn. This man's a thief."

The man twisted my collar on to my throat till I choked. "Quiet, you,"
he hissed.

Then Mr. Jermyn dropped his bucket to attend to me.

"A thief," I gasped. "A thief." Mr. Jermyn sprang aft, with his eyes on
the man's eyes. The stranger flung me into Mr. Jermyn's way, with all
the sweep of his arm. As I went staggering into the fore-bitts (for
Mr. Jermyn dodged me) the man took a quick side step up the rail to the
wharf. I steadied myself. Mr. Jermyn, failing to catch the man before
he was off the ship, rushed below