He turned quickly and seized the astonished officer by the throat. The fingers were like iron. They closed tightly on the Englishman's throat, preventing him from crying out. Two minutes and the officer was dead. Bob knew that by his weight. Letting the man down gently, he pulled a tarpaulin over him, and resumed his search as calmly as though nothing had disturbed him. He was lowering himself into the water when he accidentally saw the English flag still flying at the stern. "That ain't the right flag," he muttered, as he looked at the Union Jack. "Blow me crazy, but if I'd got the Stars and Stripes I'd put it there. Anyhow, that thing shan't stay." Bob could move about with the silence of a mouse. He was barefooted, and so no footfall was heard. Quietly he drew the halliards and lowered the flag. The darkness aided him, or he would have failed. He unfastened the flag and wound it around his body. A piece of the halliard was cut off to tie the flag securely. Bob was not yet satisfied. He knew the direction of the captain's cabin, and he must pay his respects. Placing his thumb to his nose, he extended his fingers and muttered: "That's for you, cap'n." One of the seamen was approaching, and Bob must escape. He clambered over the bulwarks and reached for the chains, but missed them. He fell into the water with a loud splash. "Man overboard!" The cry was taken up by the deck watch. Lanterns were lowered over the side, and an object could be seen floating on the water a few yards away. "Fire!" Three muskets were leveled at the swimmer, but Bob was not going to be in the track of the shot. He dived, and when he arose again to the surface he was a good many points to the east, and was out of range of their vision. A new sensation diverted the attention of the crew. "Murder!" shouted one of the watch, as he stumbled over the dead body of the murdered officer. The crew gathered around. Captain Scott looked at the lieutenant's body and asked: "Who has done it?" "I found him there, sir," answered the man. "I'll find out who has done this, and he shall pay for it. Beat to quarters and let the roll be called." The drums were beaten, and the men tumbled out of their hammocks, expecting to be called upon to fight. The middies called the rolls, and every man answered. When this was reported to the captain, he glared with savage wrath. "Who, then, was that who leaped overboard?" The mystery was greater than ever. Every man on board believed the lieutenant to have been murdered by one of the crew, who, to save himself from death by hanging, had trusted himself to the waves, hoping to reach one of the American vessels and be received as a deserter. "What now, fellow?" roared the captain, as one of the deck watch spoke excitedly to his officer. "Captain, this man tells me," said the middy, "that the flag has been lowered and the halliards cut."