them what shocking schemes are going forward,
and perhaps we can all get away. But whatever
you do, show these wretches no change in
your manner, lest they suspect us."

"You are right, Miss Brackley," said I;
"and yet —  how to make the men believe me.
How to induce them to put faith in so wild a
story."

Marian Brackley had a device ready in an
instant. Catching up a penknife, with a firm
hand and before I could remonstrate, she had
cut out the page of the log-book that contained
the fatal entry, and given it to me. Then she
closed the book and clasped it, bidding me show
the writing to McDonald, as the best evidence
of my story's truth.

"It is rash; if the villains return, to find the
page gone, we are lost," said I.

"They will not come together. Whichever
comes in will believe the log-book to have been
closed and clasped by his confederate, and neither
will care to open it. Go, Mr. Millington, pray
go quickly."

And she almost pushed me out of the cabin.
As I ascended the companion-ladder, I saw
Spiridion hovering about the hatchway. Guilt
is ever suspicious, and he gave me a sharp
glance as our eyes met. I kept my countenance
well, I suppose, for he instantly took my arm,
and strolled along the deck in my company,
laughing and chattering in his usual light style,
but with rather a forced mirth. It was some
time before I could shake him off without
appearing anxious to do so, and I began to fear
that he meant to keep his eye on me till
suppertime, in which case I should have been cut off
from communication with the British portion of
the crew. But the captain, who was sitting,
moody and stern of aspect, beside the tall
binnacle lamp, called out impatiently, " Spiridion,
come here a moment," and I was set free.

With some little trouble I contrived to attract
the notice of the intelligent Aberdeen man, and
we held a short but weighty conference beside
the bulwarks. McDonald showed less surprise
than I had expected, but twice read over the
written words which I cautiously thrust into his
hand, and then gruffly remarked that "the day's
darg" would be a hard one, but that " with a
blessing, we'd win through it."

I asked if he thought we could not take one
of the small boats and slip off unperceived, but
McDonald shook his sagacious head, and bade
me remark that the launch alone was afloat, and
towing astern with the oars in her. The small
boats were all on board, and could not be got
out without attracting notice; besides, a very
cursory inspection of the yawl, that swung near
where we stood, showed that the plugs in the
bottom of the boat had been removed.

"I've nae doubt, sir, the stony-hearted villains
took oot the plugs on purpose. They kenned
we'd make a struggle for life when they
abandoned the ship," said Æneas; " but leave it to
me, and I'll tell Jock Judkins nae mair than is
necessary, and Rod Sprowle just naething at a',
and all you and the young leddy have to do is
be on deck, and ready, when the middle watch
is set. Go and stand by the man at the wheel
and talk poetry or what ye like, and be gazin'
at the stars and the clouds, and leave the rest
o't to us."

I will not dilate on that last meal, the supper,
where we sat down to break bread with
assassins. It was a cruel trial. There, opposite
to me, sat cowardly murder, in the person of
Spiridion, smiling on those who were betrayed
to die. There, too, sat Captain Veltrivitch, ill
it ease, with bloodshot eyes and quivering
features, drinking deeply, and excusing his
discomposure on the ground of indisposition. I tried
to eat, but every morsel choked me. I tried to
talk and laugh, but felt frightened at the sound
of my own voice. How I envied Marian her
courageous composure.

At rather an earlier hour than usual we all
retired to rest, ostensibly at least, Spiridion
yawning and stretching his limbs with every sign
of lassitude, the captain dogged and dark as
ever. A little before the time for changing the
watch, I cautiously opened the door of my
sleeping cabin, stole out, carrying my slippers in my
hand, lest my step should be heard, and, tapping
at the door of my fair neighbour's state-room,
was quickly joined by Miss Brackley, who was
wrapped in a dark cloak, that almost hid her
light-coloured muslin dress. We glided up the
cabin stairs without exchanging a word.

Sail had been made on the vessel when the
breeze freshened at sunset, but the wind was
light, and our progress slow. Not a man was
to be seen aft of the mainmast, except the
helmsman. He was a Greek, and he eyed us
with keen and angry scrutiny when first we
appeared. As we paid no attention to him,
but leant on the taffrail, conversing as usual in
a low tone, and, to all seeming, absorbed in
contemplation of the glorious starry heaven and
sparkling sea, the fellow soon ceased to pay
any heed to us, and I heard him chuckle to
himself, and hum a scrap of some Romaic song.
When the bell struck, and the watch was
changed, a black-capped Russian came to take
the helm. The Greek whispered something in
his ear, and walked forward, and I saw the new
comer's strong white teeth glisten as he grinned
at his comrade's remark. But he never spoke,
and stood with his shoulder towards us, and for
a long time I heard nothing but the sullen flap
of the sails overhead.

A noise at last. Two men, wrapped in boat
cloaks, had come up the cabin stair. One of
them had stumbled over a coil of rope in his
way, and in the petulant oath he uttered I
recognised the voice of Spiridion. The other,
and more bulky of the two, was the captain, and
I saw them both proceed to the main hatch,
withdraw the fastenings, and descend into the hold.

Marian Brackley caught my arm in her quivering
fingers, and exclaimed, " O, Mr. Millington,
they have fired the ship."

And indeed a spiral column of smoke,
accompanied by a crackling sound and a strong
smell of burning wood and singed woollen, came