What so startled them was the unexpected appearance in their midst of the very man Tommy had been talking of. Taking a stroll through the Den, Mr. McLean had been drawn toward the ruin by the first cheers, and had arrived in time to learn who and what he really was. "Stroke!" gasped one small voice. The presumptuous man folded his arms. "So, Sandys," he said, in hollow tones, "we meet again!" Even Grizel got behind Tommy, and perhaps it was this that gave him spunk to say tremulously, "Wh-what are you doing her?" "I have come," replied the ruddy Pretender, "to defy you, ay, proud Sandys, to challenge thee to the deed thou pratest of. I go from here to my Lair. Follow me, if thou darest!" He brought his hand down with a bang upon the barrel, laughed disdainfully, and springing over the vessel's side was at once lost in the darkness. Instead of following, all stood transfixed, gazing at the barrel, on which lay five shillings. "He put them there when he slammed it!" "Losh behears! there's a shilling to ilka ane o' us." "I winna touch the siller," said Sandys, moodily. "What?" cried Gavinia. "I tell you it's a bribe." "Do you hear him?" screamed Gavinia. "He says we're no to lay hands on't! Corp, where's your tongue?" But even in that trying moment Corp's trust in Tommy shone out beautiful and strong. "Dinna be feared, Gavinia," he whispered, "he'll find a wy." "Lights out and follow Stroke!" was the order, and the crew at once scattered in pursuit, Mr. Sandys remaining behind a moment to--to put something in his pocket. Mr. McLean gave them a long chase, walking demurely when lovers were in sight, but at other times doubling, jumping, even standing on eminences and crowing insultingly, like a cock, and not until he had only breath left to chuckle did the stout man vanish from the Den. Elspeth, now a cabin-boy, was so shaken by the realism of the night's adventures that Gavinia (able seaman) took her home, and when Mr. Sandys and his Boatswain met at the Cuttle Well neither could tell where Grizel was. "She had no business to munt without my leave," Tommy said sulkily. "No, she hadna. Is she the Lady Griselda yet?" "Not her, she's the Commander's wife." Ben shook his head, for this, he felt, was the one thing Tommy could not do. "Well, then," growled Tommy, "if she winna be that, she'll have to serve before the mast, for I tell you plain I'll have no single women on board." "And what am I, forby Ben the Boatswain?" "Nothing. Honest men has just one name." "What! I'm just one single man?" Corp was a little crestfallen. "It's a come down," he said, with a sigh, "mind, I dinna grumble, but it's a come down." "And you dinna have 'Methinks' now either," Tommy announced pitilessly.