North snatched up the seaman's clothes, and retired with them into a little room back of the bar. He had got over the first shock of nervousness regarding the dead body lying upstairs, but still shrunk from looking on it again with shuddering terror. The remembrance of his crime did not prevent the contemplation of another equally atrocious, but he did not care to look on that sight again. After a little he came out from the room, so completely changed that the sick man stared wildly at him, and called out, "Where away, messmate; are you one of the fellows we saved from the wreck?" North laughed, settled himself in his loose clothes sailor fashion, and walked with wide steps across the floor, as if it had been a quarter-deck. A dawning conviction of the truth seized upon the man. He fell back upon the settee, uttering broken ejaculations of delight intermingled with groans. "That'll do. It's all right. He'll take you for one of the chaps we saved from the wreck, and ask no questions," he panted out. "It's going to be a roughish night," said North. "I hope your Mr. Mellen can swim, if we happen to get into any trouble." "No, no, don't depend on that, but he knows the coast, and is as brave as a lion; still I shouldn't like him to be brought into danger, remember that." "It's not at all likely that he'll be on board," answered North, carelessly. "Hush up," cried the seaman, "don't you hear the commodore coming? They've just told him about this confounded foot. Hear him swear." The pilot came in while his assistant was speaking. "What the thunder is all this about? just when I wanted you most, too, and a rough night. They'll get ahead of us, and all through this confounded wrecking business. Couldn't you keep out of it for once, you rascal?" "Keep a stiff upper lip, commodore. It's all right," cried the man, pointing to North; "here's a chap I have done a service to, who is willing to take my night's work on himself, just out of gratitude. He's a safe hand." "Let him bear away, then," cried the pilot, casting a glance at North, which seemed to prove satisfactory; "come on, my man, we have no time to lose." North followed the pilot in silence, only stopping by the sick man long enough to whisper, "Don't mention this to a living soul!" The man promised, and kept his word. The pilot boat was soon unmoored and flying out to sea like a stormy petrel. North performed his duty well, and received a word or two of commendation from the superior, which proved the efficacy of his disguise, for he had seen this person more than once at the shore tavern.