As if he knew his way, Chatfield plodded heavily up the beach and was lost in the darkness, and the three left behind stood helplessly staring at each other. For a long time there was silence, broken only by the agent's heavy tread on the shingle--at last Vickers spoke. "I think I can see through all this," he said. "Chatfield's cryptic utterances were somewhat suggestive. 'Robbed'--'maltreated'--'them as ought to have fallen in humble gratitude at his feet'--'vengeance'-- 'revenge'--'Marconi telegrams'--'ungrateful devils'--ah, I see it! Chatfield had associates on the _Pike_--probably the impostor himself and Andrius--probably, too, he had property of his own, as you suggested to him, Copplestone. The whole gang was doubtless off with their loot to far quarters of the globe. Very good--the other members have shelved Chatfield. They've done with him. But--not if he knows it! That man will hunt the _Pike_ and her people--whoever they are--relentlessly when he gets off this." "I wish we knew what it is that we're on!" said Copplestone. "Impossible till daybreak," replied Vickers. "But I've an idea--this is probably one of the seventy-odd islands of the Orkneys: I've sailed round here before. If I'm right, it's most likely one of the outlying and uninhabited ones. Andrius--or his controlling power--has dropped us--and Chatfield--here, knowing that we may have to spend a few days on this island before we succeed in getting off. Those few days will mean a great deal to the _Pike_. She can be run into some safe harbourage on this coast, given a new coat of paint and a new name, and be off before we can do anything to stop her. I allow Chatfield to be right in this--that my perhaps too hasty declaration to Andrius revealed to that gentleman how he could make off with other people's property." "Nothing will make me believe that Andrius is the solely responsible person for this last development," said Copplestone, moodily. "There were other people on board--cleverly concealed. And what are we going to do?" Audrey had stepped away from the circle of light made by the lanthorn and was gazing steadily in the direction which Chatfield had taken. "Those are cliffs, surely," she said presently. "Hadn't we better go up the beach and see if we can't find some shelter until morning? Fortunately we're all warmly clad, and Andrius was considerate enough to throw rugs and things into the boat, as well as provisions. Come along!--after all, we're not so badly off. And we have the satisfaction of knowing that we can keep Chatfield under observation. Remember that!"