"Ugh!" he says, making a detour around the body of Siebel, "Charlie was scared. Charlie don't like dead folks." And he plants himself squarely before Vernet, grinning and staring at Alan the while. "Out of my range, fool!" cries Vernet angrily. And then, as Charlie springs aside with absurd alacrity, he says to Alan: "Fellow, throw down that iron." But Alan Warburton gives no sign that he hears the command. He has not recognized the voice of Vernet, and is not aware of the man's identity, but he has an instinctive notion that his address will not be in keeping with his nautical costume, and he is not an adept at dissimulation. "You won't eh?" pursues Vernet mockingly. "You are very mum? and no wonder." "Mum, mum," chants Silly Charlie, approaching Alan with gingerly steps, and peering curiously into his face. Then bending suddenly forward he whispers quickly: "_Keep mum!_" and bursting into an idiotic laugh, _pirouettes_ back to the side of Vernet. "Charlie," says Vernet suddenly, and without once removing his eyes from Alan's face, "put your hand in my side pocket--no, no! the other one," as Charlie makes a sudden dive into the pocket nearest him. "That's right; now pull out the handcuffs, and take out the rope." Charlie obeys eagerly, and examines the handcuffs with evident delight. "Charlie" says Vernet, "you and I have got to make this man a prisoner. If we do, you will get your star and uniform." "Hooray!" cries Charlie, fairly dancing with delight. "Gimme, gum--gimme knife!" "Why, the blood-thirsty fool!" exclaims Vernet. "No, no, Charlie; we must put on these handcuffs, and rope his feet." "Hoop la!" cries Charlie; "gimme rope." Seizing the rope from Vernet's hand, he advances toward Alan, gesticulating savagely. Suddenly Alan raises the iron bar and menaces him. Charlie stops a moment, then flinging aside the rope he makes a swift spring, hurling himself upon Alan with such sudden force that the latter loses his guard for a moment, and then Van Vernet is upon him. He makes such resistance as a brave man may, when he has a single hand for defence and two against him, but he is borne down, handcuffed, and bound. As he lies fettered and helpless, in close proximity to the murdered sneak thief, Alan Warburton's eyes rest wonderingly upon Silly Charlie, for during the struggle that strange genius has contrived to whisper in his ear these words: "_Don't resist--keep silence--we are gaining time for her!_" "Charlie," says Vernet, "that's a good bit of work, and I'm proud of you. Now, let's make our prisoner more comfortable." Together they lift Alan, and place him in a chair near the centre of the room. Then, finding it impossible to make him open his lips, Van Vernet begins a survey of the premises. "We must get one or two of my men here," he says, after a few moments of silent investigation. "Charlie, can I trust you to go back to the place where we left them?"