"She is a good lady. But wait a little; I have something to say first." Many moments passed before she spoke again, and in the pause a grateful prayer went up from the girl's heart even for the small blessing of gentle speech from her hero's lips. "You have made me very, very happy. Until tonight--for many, many months past--I have been most unhappy." She bent her lips to his hand and kissed it. "Now answer me. We are in great peril?" "The greatest, I fear." "But a danger threatens you of which you are not aware. Listen. The second mate, he who was put in irons the other day"-- "Scadbolt--go on." "Is loosed." "By whom?" "I don't know. But he is loosed, and but five minutes since was near me with a sailor whom I think I know, although I could not see him. Listen. I must whisper, for he may be near us now. They were talking of you, and they swore--O my God!--they swore to have your life." "They spoke of me by name?" "By name--Joshua Marvel." "You think you know the sailor who was talking to Scadbolt. Is he a dark man?" "Yes; a Lascar I think." "You are right. He owes me an old grudge." "Scadbolt said that this coast is one of the most dangerous upon which a ship could strike. He believes he knows pretty well where we are, and that it will be a fight for the boats"-- "We have only two, the jolly-boat and the longboat; he may be right." "Be on your guard; tell the captain; be prepared." "We will; and you"-- "I can protect myself. Feel this." "A knife!" "I picked it up. Let them beware." Another lurch of the vessel made them cling closer to each other. During all the horror of the scene, Joshua had not dared to ask whether it really was Minnie to whom he was speaking; he feared to know the truth. Minnie on the ship with him! and Ellen at home--and Dan--he dared not think of it. "Come," he said; "I will take you to the captain's lady. Cling fast to me." "Say a few words to me." "What are they?" "God bless and forgive you." "God bless and forgive you! From my heart." "He will, I think," said the girl, as if communing with herself. "I have not felt so happy for a long time past. Death has no terror for me if you are kind!" CHAPTER XXX. JOSHUA IS PROMOTED. When daylight came--and oh, how they watched for it, and prayed for it!--they saw clearly their great peril. The ship was rolling amongst a mass of sharp rocks jutting upwards from the sea. They saw the points of these rocks on all sides of them; but no friendly land was in view. "The ship is lost," said Captain Liddle to Joshua whom he looked upon as his right-hand; "she is breaking up fast. Our next chance is the boats." It was a wonder indeed how the "Merry Andrew" had kept together during the night, with the tremendous beating she had received from the rocks; if she had been in deep water, she must inevitably have sunk.