"Them as arn't in the swim is down in the forksel," said Sam, gruffly, "with all the chain cable piled atop on 'em, I expect; but it seemed to me as if the deck was swarming in the dark with fellows, all a trying to let daylight into your ribs." STORY ONE, CHAPTER THIRTY. AFTER THE FIGHT. The silence on the deck now seemed ominous to those who were listening intently for some warning of the enemy coming down, but the long, weary hours passed without any fresh alarm, and they all stood in that pitchy darkness and stifling heat, waiting for the danger that did not come. "I'm getting so anxious about my birds," said Mr Wilson suddenly from one corner of the cabin. "How shall I get to feed them?" _No_ one spoke for a moment or two, and then Sam Oakum exclaimed: "You won't want no more birds, sir. You're a-going to be kep' in a cage yourself;" and the two sailors tittered to themselves, but no one else spoke. "I say," exclaimed Oakum, all at once, "what's come o' the stooard and old 'Pollo?" "I'm here, Mr Oakum, sir," said a weak voice, and then there was a low wailing noise. "That's old fatty, sure enough," said Oakum, "and he's a-crying. But what's come of 'Pollo?" There was no answer to this, and Sam was heard to bring his hand down on his leg with a vigorous slap. "I remember now," he exclaimed. "They brought him down on the deck when they went at me, but it was all knocked out of my head. Poor old 'Pollo! Poor old chap! I liked his honest old black physog somehow, if it wouldn't wash white. If he's killed," he muttered sternly between his teeth, "someone's got to answer for it afore long." The hours dragged on, and then it seemed as if the darkness had suddenly grown less opaque; then one haggard face and then another could be dimly made out, and at last, as if with a rush, up came the sun, and the saloon was flooded with light reflected through the windows off the glorious dancing water; and the prisoners began to look from one to the other, and always at haggard anxious faces. Dutch, finding that all was still outside, walked softly to the little cabin where Bessy Studwick and his wife had been placed for safety; and as the door was open he could see that Hester was sleeping peacefully with her head resting on her friend's lap, while pale and anxious looking, Bessy held only her hands, and sat up watchful as she had been all night.