At that moment the _Stella_ came alongside with a force which sent a shiver through the _Rampallo_ from stern to stern; and the sounds of the trampling of many feet on the deck above our heads followed. “What’s that?” he exclaimed and started to scramble up. “You’ll find it safer to stop just where you are,” I said curtly. He glanced up at me and, not liking my looks, abandoned the attempt. “What is the meaning of it all?” he asked sullenly. “I was on this boat the night before last when you were all discussing your plans and I decided to play the king’s part in this business.” “You?” and he ran his eyes over my much slighter form. “You’ll find the remainder of His Majesty under the bunk here; the shot-weighted clothes and all the rest of it.” “And what’s your object?” “Never mind. I had one and have gained it. My yacht, the _Stella_, followed us all through the night; and the row up there means that my men have just come aboard.” The racket on deck was dying down now and I soon heard Burroughs calling my name loudly and anxiously. “Donnington! Ralph! Where are you?” I opened the cabin door and answered him. “Is all well with you?” he cried, eagerly. “I was getting worried about you.” “It’s all right, Jack, but it was touch and go, owing to Captain Gompez here, the leader of the lot.” “Been making trouble, has he? Have you left any kick in him?” “What are you going to do with us?” interposed Gompez. “Send you to sea for a week in charge of my friend here, Mr. Burroughs--and a crew chosen from my own yacht. At the end of that time I shall probably hand you over to the authorities with a full statement of all this.” “I protest----” he began angrily. “Waste of time,” I cut in laconically. “Bring him along to the rest, Jack.” We went to the yacht’s saloon where the other prisoners were. Burroughs had done things thoroughly. There were seven of them, and he had handcuffed them all and put a couple of men over them, with loaded revolvers. “I’m taking no risks, Ralph,” said Burroughs in explanation, and then fastened Captain Gompez’ wrists in similar fashion. A more dejected forlorn set of men I had never cast eyes on. Grimed from head to foot, worn out with sleeplessness, toil and anxiety, they were broken by the utter defeat of their scheme and the certainty that ruin, disgrace, dishonour and possibly death was all they had to face. Two or three had dozed off, and the rest turned as I entered and looked at me with lack-lustre eyes without even the energy to show anger. Among those who were asleep, or feigning sleep, was Sampayo. He was in a corner at the far end, his face averted and his head sunk on his breast. The arrival of the _Stella_ had warned him that I was at the bottom of the trouble, and he and the red-headed young fellow who had tried to draw on me before had been the only ones to give trouble; but they had gained nothing by it except a crack on the head.