My eyes sought the deck. I went to the bunk and looked through the porthole, turning my back to him. ‘Answer me,’ he cried. I slowly confronted him and said: ‘Yes, I know one of the convicts.’ ‘Which is the man?’ ‘Barney Abram.’ He stared in good earnest, made a step the better to see me, my back being to the porthole, and said: ‘You know Barney Abram? Probably one of the worst characters in this ship. You are a friend of his?’ ‘I did not use the word friend, sir. I know Barney Abram by sight. I recognised him as he paced the deck this afternoon.’ ‘Where have you met him on shore?’ ‘He was pointed out to me.’ ‘Where--where?’ I paused to let him know I was not to be frightened by his imperious manner, and answered: ‘In Newgate Prison.’ ‘Were you a prisoner?’ he asked quickly. ‘I was a visitor.’ ‘Whom visiting?’ ‘The jail.’ ‘Who pointed the man out to you?’ ‘My companion.’ ‘Who was your companion?’ ‘I’ll not answer that question,’ I replied, ‘because if I tell you who that companion was, I shall be acquainting you with more than I intend you shall know. But neither will I tell you any lies.’ He looked hard at my hands. I held them up close to his face and exclaimed: ‘Judge for yourself, sir. I have been no prisoner!’ and laughed. ‘You are the most impudent young dog I ever met,’ said he, with a sort of admiration in the anger of his looks. ‘Where were you educated?’ ‘I never went to school; I was educated at home,’ I answered, feigning an air of shyness and swinging my leg. ‘Is your mother living?’ ‘No, sir.’ ‘Father?’ ‘I have a stepfather,’ I answered. ‘And his is the home you have run away from, I suppose.’ He mused for a few moments and then said: ‘Put on your cap, and follow me.’ He led me through the saloon on to the main-deck, and so through the gate in the after barricade where the sentry stood. I followed him without alarm, though I wondered with all my might why he should bring me into this convicts’ inclosure. Did he mean to send me below to live among the felons, or to be locked up in their bulkheaded prison? Not very likely. But what did he mean to do? There was not a convict to be seen within the barricades. The sunset was rich and thunderous, and the air full of red light; the wind had freshened and blew very cold. The watch on deck were shortening sail, and the three royals and the mizzen top-gallantsail and some fore and aft canvas were slatting and jumping overhead, with a few seamen hoarsely bawling at the clew-lines, and some hands sprawling aloft. The first mate was now in charge, and he stood on the poop looking up, watching the fellows climbing. This man I had seen aboard the ship in the East India Docks. Tom knew him and had shaken hands with him. The captain was walking with the two military officers, the sentries crossed and recrossed the poop-break, and round about the little booby-hatch, close against the cuddy front, were two or three soldiers and a few women and children.