THE HORRORS OF THE HOLD. To the surprise of the four youths, M. Montfort utterly ignored them on the following day, instead of seeking "trouble," as had been anticipated. "Well," said Jack, in disgust, "he has less courage than I thought. He is just a common boasting Frenchman." "He is not a common Frenchman." declared Frank. "I believe he is a rascal of more than common calibre." "But he lacks nerve, and I have nothing but contempt for him," said the Virginian. "I didn't know but he would challenge me to a duel." "What if he had?" "What if he had?" hissed the hot-blooded Southern youth. "I'd fought him at the drop of the hat!" "That's all right, but you know most Frenchmen fight well in a duel." "I don't know anything of the kind. They are expert fencers, but I notice it is mighty seldom one of them is killed in a duel. They sometimes draw a drop of blood, and then they consider that 'honor is satisfied,' and that ends it." It was midway in the forenoon that Frank met Mr. Slush on deck. The little man was looking more doleful and dejected than ever, if possible. "The--ah--the moon showed rather yellow last night," he said. "That is a--a sure sign of disaster." "Well," said Merry, with a smile, "I think the disaster will befall you, sir, if you do not steer clear of the crowd you were in last night." Mr. Slush looked surprised. "Might I--ah--inquire your meaning?" he faltered. "I mean that you are playing poker with card-sharps, and they mean to rob you," answered Frank, plainly. "I--I wonder how you--er--know so much," said the little man, with something like faint sarcasm, as Frank fancied. "It makes little difference how I know it, but I am telling you the truth. I am warning you for your good, sir." "Er--ahem! Thank you--very much." Mr. Slush walked away. "Well, I'm hanged if he doesn't take it coolly enough!" muttered Frank, perplexed. Frank felt an interest to know how Sport Harris was getting along. He walked forward and found the captain near the steps that led to the bridge. In reply to Merry's inquiry, the captain said: "Oh, don't worry about him. There are rats down there in the hold, but I guess he'll be able to fight them off. He'll have bread and water the rest of the voyage." After that Merry could not help thinking of Harris all alone in the darkness of the hold, with swarms of rats around him, eating dry bread, washed down with water. Frank felt that the youthful villain did not deserve any sympathy, but, despite himself, he could not help feeling a pang of pity for him. When he expressed himself thus to his friends, however, they scoffed at him. "Serves the dog right!" flashed Diamond. "He is getting just what he deserves, and I'm glad of it!" "He will get what he deserves when we reach the other side," grunted Browning. "No," said Merry; "he is an American, and he'll have to be taken back to the United States for punishment." "Well, he'll get it all right."