"He would not get the divers." "No, perhaps not; but he might make up a party who could overhaul and plunder us. I shall not be happy till we are well on the way." "Good, then, let's make our start. It will astonish Pugh when he comes up from his berth to find us full-handed and well on our way." "Is he lying down, then?" said the captain. "Yes, I persuaded him to go, as he was the watch again to-night. The fellow is ill with worry and anxiety, and we can't afford to have him knocked up. You'll start, then, at once." "In a quarter of an hour or so," said Captain Studwick. "Here's a large barque coming up, and we may as well let her clear us first." Giving the word to the mate, the first half-dozen men were called up, and a couple of sails made ready for hoisting, so as to give steerage way, and the motions of the dimly-seen barque were watched. "I don't want her to run foul of us," said the captain, "for if she did, I should be ready to swear that it was one of the Cuban's plans." "Hardly," replied Mr Parkley. "If any fresh hindrance is to come to us, it will be from the shore. If you take my advice, you will not let a boat approach the ship to-night." "I don't mean to," said the captain. "All right, she'll give us a pretty good wide berth. Hallo! What's that?" he said, crossing over to port. "Boat from the shore, sir," said one of the men; and at the same moment came a hail out of the darkness. "Ahoy there! Heave us a rope." Oakum stepped forward, and was about to cast a rope down, when the captain stayed him. "What is it?" he said sharply. "Keep off, or you may have something through your planks;" and as he spoke he peered down into the boat. "Here, Jones, keep a sharp look-out on the other side, and see that no boat comes up." "Is that Captain Studwick?" said a woman's voice. "Yes, and what then?" said the captain. "Now, it won't do. The trick's too clear. How many have you in that boat?" "No one but myself," replied the same voice. "Pray, pray let me come on board." "Who are you, and what do you want?" exclaimed the captain. "Quick! I've no time to waste." "Let her come on board," cried Mr Parkley, hastily. "Don't you know her?" he whispered; "it's Mrs Pugh." Then leaning over the side--"Hester, my child, is that you?" "Yes," was the hoarse reply. "Mr Parkley, for Heaven's sake, take me on board." "There, I told you so," exclaimed Mr Parkley; "let down the steps." "I tell you it's some ruse of that cursed Cuban," cried the captain, angrily. "If you give way we shall be stopped again. Keep that boat off below there." "No, no!" cried Mr Parkley. "Stop. Studwick, I take the responsibility on myself. Oakum, lower the steps, and throw that rope." "Ay, ay, sir," said the old sailor. "Am I to do it?" he continued to the captain. "Yes, if he wishes it," was the testy reply; and then in a low voice he said to the mate, "Slip the hawser, and haul up the jib and staysail. I'm going to the wheel."