"As to your love confidences," said Dutch smiling, "they are safe with me; but look here, Wilson, you are better as you are--better as you are." "You think so, perhaps," said the young man; "but I do not. You are angry with Mrs Pugh for something: that is all. She is very pretty, but perhaps she is a little imprudent," he added simply. "What do you mean?" exclaimed Dutch angrily. "Don't be cross with me, Mr Pugh. Perhaps I am wrong." "Speak! What do you mean?" exclaimed Dutch, panting. "I only thought she ought to be more particular, perhaps, as a lady, and not speak to the dark mulatto sailor." "Have--have you seen her speaking to--to that man?" said Dutch, with his breath coming thick and short. "Yes, I did last night," said Wilson; "but I did not mention it to anyone else, and of course she was only doing it out of kindness, for she is very amiable." "When--when was it?" panted Dutch, whose face flushed with shame and anger that he should be stooping to ask such questions. "Just after dark, when you diving people were having your meal below. They parted, though, directly." "Thanks; say no more about this," said Dutch, more calmly. "Perhaps it looks a little imprudent, but, as you say, she is so amiable and kind to the men that her actions are easily misconstrued." Dutch rose to go on deck, for the air in the cabin seemed to stifle him, but Wilson arrested his steps. "But you will come if we have a shooting expedition, Mr Pugh?" he exclaimed. "You have not been ashore yet, but spending your time over this dreadful treasure-hunting, when the treasures ashore are a thousand times more beautiful." "I will see--perhaps--I cannot say," replied Dutch; and he stumbled on deck to stand watching Rasp, who was busy over the air-pump, which he had taken all to pieces, but as it was close upon dusk he was collecting the various screws and placing them loosely in their proper holes before covering all over with a tarpaulin to keep off the heavy night dew that hung in drops each morning from every rail. The words of Wilson, the simple-hearted naturalist, had so troubled Dutch that his mind was once more in a whirl. Till then he had been gradually getting into a calm, resigned state, and accepting the inevitable; but now to hear such remarks as these about his wife's conduct was simply maddening him, and as he went and leaned over the side, gazing down into the pure water where the golden treasure lay, it was forgotten mostly in the trouble of his heart, and he made up his mind that he would see Hester and demand some full explanation of her conduct, and so end this terrible suspense. "I will know," he muttered; and as he rose he felt surprised at the lapse of time, for the short tropic twilight had given place to intense darkness while he had been brooding over his troubles, and now it occurred to him that he had not told Mr Parkley about the gold.