making it plain that he was disgusted with the brutality

displayed toward the crew, nor would he countenance anything

further of the kind while he and Lady Greystoke remained

passengers.

The captain was on the point of making an angry reply,

but, thinking better of it, turned on his heel and black and

scowling, strode aft.

He did not care to antagonize an English official, for the

Queen's mighty arm wielded a punitive instrument which he could

appreciate, and which he feared--England's far-reaching navy.

The two sailors picked themselves up, the older man assisting

his wounded comrade to rise. The big fellow, who was

known among his mates as Black Michael, tried his leg gingerly,

and, finding that it bore his weight, turned to Clayton

with a word of gruff thanks.

Though the fellow's tone was surly, his words were evidently

well meant. Ere he had scarce finished his little speech he

had turned and was limping off toward the forecastle with the

very apparent intention of forestalling any further conversation.

They did not see him again for several days, nor did the

captain accord them more than the surliest of grunts when he

was forced to speak to them.

They took their meals in his cabin, as they had before the

unfortunate occurrence; but the captain was careful to see

that his duties never permitted him to eat at the same time.

The other officers were coarse, illiterate fellows, but little

above the villainous crew they bullied, and were only too

glad to avoid social intercourse with the polished English

noble and his lady, so that the Claytons were left very much

to themselves.

This in itself accorded perfectly with their desires, but it

also rather isolated them from the life of the little ship so

that they were unable to keep in touch with the daily happenings

which were to culminate so soon in bloody tragedy.

There was in the whole atmosphere of the craft that undefinable