The tone was gentlemanly, and even supplicating, and Somers entered the room, closing the door behind him; but he was careful to cock his revolver as he did so, for the prisoner was a desperate man. "I am ready to hear you." "It is well you are." "If you have any threats to make, I will not remain." "Let me speak only the truth," said Pillgrim, as he looked at his watch. "In twenty minutes from now, we shall all be in kingdom come." There was a malignant smile on the face of the traitor as he spoke, and it was plain to Somers that the villain did not speak without a cause. "Somers, you have beaten me in the last game we played. I shall beat in the next one." "I told you I did not come here to listen to threats." "You will be a dead man in seventeen minutes, Somers," continued Pillgrim, glancing at his watch again. "I could not deny myself the satisfaction of informing you of the fact. But, Somers, you will have the pleasure of knowing that I shall share your fate." "What do you mean, you villain?" demanded Somers, horrified by the thought suggested by the traitor's words. "Gently, my dear fellow. Don't use hard words. But I am glad to see you are moved. Ah, Somers, I have you now," said the wretch, in mocking tones. "Speak!" roared Somers, drawing his pistol. "Shoot me, Somers. I will thank you if you will. It is better to be shot dead, than to be blown up, mangled, and then, after enduring a moment or an hour of agony, to be drowned. Fire, Somers!" He restored the revolver to his belt, appalled by the terrible picture which the villain painted. "Somers, I did leave my state-room. I was not willing to acknowledge it before your crew." "How?" "I have not time to explain. There are but ten minutes of life left to you and me. We will not waste them in what is of so little consequence to either of us. You know of what the cargo of the Ben Nevis is composed?" "I do--of arms, ammunition, and provisions." "Correct; the ammunition is stowed in the after part of the ship--under us, in fact. Captain Walmsley and myself have laid a train by which the vessel will be blown up when four bells strike. It wants five minutes of the time. Captain Walmsley is in a position where he can hear the bell," continued Pillgrim with perfect coolness. "Marine," said Somers, opening the door. "Here, sir," responded the man. "Pass the word for the quartermaster to strike four bells, instantly," added the young commander. "I am ready, Mr. Pillgrim." The traitor looked aghast. CHAPTER XVI. CAPTAIN WALMSLEY. "Mr. Pillgrim, I am not to be intimidated by any such stuff," said Somers, when he had ordered the bells to be struck, which would produce the explosion. "Perhaps Captain Walmsley will not think it best to fire the ammunition at the moment agreed upon; some discretion on this point was left with him; but I assure you, on my word and honor, that the train is laid which will blow up the Ben Nevis," said Pillgrim, earnestly.