Then it struck me that even at that moment some new phase of the conspiracy might be developing itself. The nervous excitement seemed to have driven away my incipient attack of sickness, for I was able to stand up and lower myself from the boat without experiencing any return of it. I staggered along the deck with the intention of descending into the cabin and finding how my acquaintances of the morning were occupying themselves. Just as I had my hand on the companion-rail, I was astonished by receiving a hearty slap on the back, which nearly shot me down the steps with more haste than dignity. “Is that you, Hammond?” said a voice which I seemed to recognise. “God bless me,” I said, as I turned round, “it can’t be Dick Merton! Why, how are you, old man?” This was an unexpected piece of luck in the midst of my perplexities. Dick was just the man I wanted; kindly and shrewd in his nature, and prompt in his actions, I should have no difficulty in telling him my suspicions, and could rely upon his sound sense to point out the best course to pursue. Since I was a little lad in the second form at Harrow, Dick had been my adviser and protector. He saw at a glance that something had gone wrong with me. “Hullo!” he said, in his kindly way, “what’s put you about, Hammond? You look as white as a sheet. _Mal de mer_, eh?” “No, not that altogether,” said I. “Walk up and down with me, Dick; I want to speak to you. Give me your arm.” Supporting myself on Dick’s stalwart frame, I tottered along by his side; but it was some time before I could muster resolution to speak. “Have a cigar,” said he, breaking the silence. “No, thanks,” said I. “Dick, we shall be all corpses to-night.” “That’s no reason against your having a cigar now,” said Dick, in his cool way, but looking hard at me from under his shaggy eyebrows as he spoke. He evidently thought that my intellect was a little gone. “No,” I continued, “it’s no laughing matter; and I speak in sober earnest, I assure you. I have discovered an infamous conspiracy, Dick, to destroy this ship and every soul that is in her;” and I then proceeded systematically, and in order, to lay before him the chain of evidence which I had collected. “There, Dick,” I said, as I concluded, “what do you think of that? and, above all, what am I to do?” To my astonishment he burst into a hearty fit of laughter.