At such times he recalled the shadows on the blind, set his teeth, and thought of Laure's sneering laugh of triumph, and then his blood seemed to boil up, and it was only by a strong effort that he was able to master the agony he felt, mingled as it was with a desire for revenge. "If I don't get to work at something," he muttered, "I shall go mad." Just then the sun rose bright and clear, sending a flood of wondrous radiance over the dancing waters, flecking the distant land with golden radiance and dark shadows, while the soft mists gradually rose higher and higher, gleaming like transparent silver, as they floated over woodland and down. "I wonder whether I shall ever see you again," muttered Dutch to himself, as he leaned over the bulwark, and gazed at the beautiful panorama by which they were swiftly gliding; and then, turning away with a sigh, he came full upon the dark-skinned mulatto sailor, busily coiling down a rope, and Dutch started slightly, half feeling that he had seen the lowering countenance before, but the man paid no heed to him, only went on with his task with his tarry hands, and finally limped off to another part of the vessel. Just then Captain Studwick and Mr Parkley came on deck, talking earnestly, and when he went forward to shake hands they looked troubled, and there was an air of constraint in their manner that he could not understand. "Well, gentlemen," he said, with an affectation of ease which he did not feel, "we are out of our troubles now." "I don't know so much about that," said Mr Parkley. "Eh, Studwick?" "No," said the captain, "I don't know either." "Why, what do you mean?" said Dutch, and his eye involuntarily fell upon the dark-skinned sailor, who was close at hand. "You don't suspect that the Cuban can interfere now?" "You'd better tell him," whispered Mr Parkley. "No, no, you tell him," said the captain uneasily, "known him longer, and so on." "What are you whispering about?" exclaimed Dutch. "Pray speak out." Mr Parkley looked at the captain for help, but he began to whistle, and walked away to give an order. "Well, my dear Pugh, the fact is," said Mr Parkley, taking hold of his special button. "Pray go on," exclaimed Dutch, "not anything serious?" "N-no, not serious, but awkward. The fact is your wife came on board last night." "My wife!" exclaimed Dutch, and a flash of joy lit up his face. Then the sombre cloud overshadowed it again, and he exclaimed bitterly, "I have no wife," and walked away. "Well, my lad," said Captain Studwick sharply, for the mulatto had ceased working, and, half bent down as he was, stood listening intently to all that passed, "you've nothing to do with what those gentlemen are saying." The man made a deprecating motion with his hand and bent to his work again. "We may as well understand each other at once," said the captain sharply. "Stand up."