At this I nearly uttered a cry of astonishment. It was Sampayo’s voice; and in a second I understood what had so baffled me--why the papers had been brought to the _Rampallo_. Sampayo was hiding on it from me. That removal of his goods and all the evidences of flight which Bryant had seen were just play-acting to mislead me into the belief that he had bolted, and being afraid to be seen on shore he had arranged for his associates to come to the boat. That they were coming was soon plain. Sampayo roused the man he had spoken to; and the answer was in Vasco’s voice, thick with drink. “Go on deck, you young fool, and see if there are any signs of the launch. They ought to be here by now.” “Leave me alone,” grunted Vasco thickly. “I must go myself then,” was the reply with an oath. I slipped away forward and hid myself under the lee of the forecastle hatchway. Sampayo came out on deck and stood smoking and listening and peering through the darkness for the expected launch. Presently, I heard the quick throb of her propeller, and in a few minutes she reached the yacht and three or four men, I could not distinguish the exact number, came on board, and all went down below at once. Anxious not to miss a word of what passed I hastened along the deck to my former position, and had just passed the hatchway leading below to the saloon when some one came running up the companion way. In a second I rolled into the scuppers lying as still as death. “I fastened her all right,” protested some one. “For Heaven’s sake, make sure. You’re not much of a hand at sailors’ knots,” was the laughing reply. Two men came out and hurried across the deck. One of them got down into the launch; and the other stood watching. “It’s all right. As fast as a steeple.” “It would be a pretty mess if she got adrift.” The men came on deck again and they both returned toward the companion way. “I suppose everything’s all right on the deck,” said one. “What should be wrong?” “Nothing. Only I’ve got an infernally uneasy feeling.” “Not going to back out at the last minute, are you? We shall be in a pretty bad way to-morrow night if we have to go without the only man who knows anything about managing the boat.” “Who said anything about backing out? We’re all in it now, sink or swim. But--oh, hang presentiments,” he broke off irritably. “Well, I’ll get a lantern if you like and look round the deck. But it’s all rot.” “I’ve half a mind you shall.” As he said this he came a couple of paces toward me, and I began to think any number of unpleasant things. “I won’t be a minute,” said the other and ran down below. Move I dare not. The man was too close to me, and the instant the other returned with a light, my discovery was certain. All I could do was to plan how to escape. I decided to lie still until actually discovered, and then trust to their astonishment, giving me time to jump over the side and swim for it.