A low murmur ran round the cabin; and then there was perfect silence, as they all stood there in the pitchy darkness and stifling heat--for the wind-sail had been withdrawn--listening intently to the sounds above, for it was evident now that some fresh disturbance was on foot--in fact, the noise of the discovery of Oakum now began to reach their ears, accompanied directly after by the sound of shots. "They are not all enemies on deck, then," said Dutch, eagerly. "_Who_ can that be?" "It must be Oakum or Mr Jones," exclaimed the captain. "Surely we have more true men on board than that," said Dutch, who in this time of emergency seemed to take the lead. "I hope so," was the captain's remark; and then once more there was silence on deck, following upon a sharp order or two that they could not make out. Just then Dutch felt a hand laid upon his arm. "Who is this?" he said, in a low voice. "It is I--Meldon," said the doctor in the same tone. "Lean towards me, Mr Pugh." "What do you wish to say?" said Dutch. "Shall we be obliged to fight, Mr Pugh?" whispered the doctor. "Are you afraid, sir?" was the reply. "Perhaps I am; it is only natural, Mr Pugh," said the doctor. "I have seen so much of death that I have learned to fear it more than a rough sailor or soldier, perhaps; but I was not speaking for myself." "I am glad of that," said Dutch, with something of a sneer, for he was annoyed at being interrupted at such a time. "You need not sneer, Mr Pugh," said the doctor quietly. "What I fear is that if we come to some bloody struggle, it may mean death to some here." "It is pretty sure to, sir--especially to me," he muttered, "if I get him by the throat. Who is that moving there?" he said aloud. "On'y me, Mr Pug," said a rough voice, and the doctor went on. "You misunderstand me, Mr Pugh," continued the doctor, in a whisper. "I mean that the shock might be fatal to young Studwick, and I am sure it would be, in her delicate state, to your wife." "My wife should have stayed ashore, sir," said Dutch, rather harsh, for he resented this interference. "Your words are very bitter, Mr Pugh," said the doctor, coldly, "and, excuse me, not manly at such a time. Ever since that night when I was called in to Mrs Pugh, and she had that series of swoons--" "You called in to my wife," said Dutch, who was startled by the words; "that night?" "Yes, Miss Studwick sent for me, as I was close at hand. Did you not know?" "No, no," said Dutch, "I was away from home. I--I forgot--I did not know." "I mean when I found her so weak and ill. You must know--that night I carried her up to bed." "Yes--yes," said Dutch, in a strange voice that he did not know for his own. "You mean that night when you carried her in your arms--to her bedroom--there was a light there." "Of course. Miss Studwick held it for me," said the doctor. "I thought you would recollect."