"Yes, quite right," replied Mr Frewen, and we waited still, with the wind shrieking amongst the cordage, and the night appearing blacker than ever. Thud! Plash! A heavy wave had struck the bows, and the spray came hissing and rushing along the deck after deluging the ship forward. "I'm certain that my poor fish will all be killed by the salt water, Dale," whispered Mr Preddle, but I only made an impatient movement, for I was trying to hear what Mr Brymer whispered to the doctor, who did not hear the remark, and said-- "What?" "I say that was bad steering, and if I were in command, there would be a row." Thud! Splash! This time the water must have curled over in a perfect deluge, for we could hear it hiss and roar amongst the cordage on the leeward side, and stream out of the scuppers. "That must fetch him up if he is below," whispered Mr Brymer, and sure enough the next moment we heard his voice shouting furiously at the men at the wheel, though we could hardly make out a word he said. "Look out! Here he comes!" "To the wheel, not here," said Mr Frewen. "Shall we--" There was not time to say more, for we caught an indistinct glimpse of the figure in oilskins, as, balancing itself as well as it could, it made for the ladder on the starboard side; but just then the ship gave a tremendous lurch, and our enemy missed the ladder, nearly fell, but saved himself, and consequent upon the impetus with which he was moving, darted right in through the companion-way. The next moment he was down on the deck, making a half-stifled sound, and held fast while a revolver and knife were taken from a belt beneath his oilskin. Then his hands were bandaged behind his back, his legs treated to bonds, and he was dragged into the cabin, while we stood panting over him. "Look here," said Mr Frewen then, in a hoarse voice; "we are going to lock you in this cabin, but mind, we're all armed--feel that!--it is the point of a revolver--and I swear to you by all that is holy, if you make a sound I'll shoot you as I would a dog." He made a curious, half-choking sound, and we drew back out of the cabin and the door was shut and fastened. "Have you got his knife and pistol, Brymer?" "Yes. All safe. Now then, forward silently till we are close upon them, and then give your signal--a whistle, isn't it?" "Yes." "Give it sharply; it will do for your friends as well as for us. Then fire if there is the least resistance, close with them, and let's get them under hatches. But I beg pardon, sir; you are in command." "Nonsense! You could not have given better advice." "But they will not show much fight. Without their leader they will be like sheep." I could not help hoping that they would turn out to be like sheep, and leave it to us to play the sheep-dog with them. "Now then, one more word," said the mate. "It would have been better to divide, and part go to starboard, the rest to port, but we are so few."