Davy was now tramping restlessly to and fro. Dan was trying to consider what it was best to do, whether to open to Davy and hear what he had to say, or to carry it off as if he were not within, when another foot sounded on the shingle and cut short his meditations. "Have you seen Mr. Ewan--Parson Ewan?" Dan recognized the voice. It was the voice of Jarvis Kerruish. Davy did not answer immediately. "Have you seen him, eh?" "No, sir," Davy faltered. "Then why didn't you say so at once? It is very strange. The people said he was walking toward the creek. There's no way out in this direction, is there?" "Way out--this direction? Yes, sir," Davy stammered. "How? show me the way." "By the sea, sir." "The sea! Simpleton, what are you doing here?" "Waiting for the boat, sir." "What shed is this?" Dan could hear that at this question Davy was in a fever of excitement. "Only a place for bits of net and cable, and all to that," said Davy, eagerly. Dan could feel that Jarvis had stepped up to the shed, and that he was trying to look in through the little window. "Do you keep a fire to warm your nets and cables?" he asked in a suspicious tone. At the next moment he was trying to force the door. Dan stood behind. The bolt creaked in the hasp. If the hasp should give way, he and Jarvis would stand face to face. "Strange--there's something strange about all this," said the man outside. "I heard a scream as I came over the Head. Did you hear anything?" "I tell you I heard nothing," said Davy, sullenly. Dan grew dizzy, and groping for something to cling to, his hand scraped across the door. "Wait! I could have sworn I heard something move inside. Who keeps the key of this shed?" "Kay? There's never a kay at the like of it." "Then how is it fastened? From within? Wait--let me see." There was a sound like the brushing of a hand over the outside face of the door. "Has the snow stopped up the keyhole, or is there no such thing? Or is the door fastened by a padlock?" Dan had regained his self-possession by this time. He felt an impulse to throw the door open. He groped at his waist for the dagger, but belt and dagger were both gone. "All this is very strange," said Jarvis, and then he seemed to turn from the door and move away. "Stop. Where is the man Dan--the captain?" he asked, from a little distance. "I dunno," said Davy, stoutly. "That's a lie, my lad." Then the man's footsteps went off in dull beats on the snow-clotted pebbles. After a moment's silence there was a soft knocking; Davy had crept up to the door. "Mastha Dan," he whispered, amid panting breath. Dan did not stir. The latch was lifted in vain. "Mastha Dan, Mastha Dan." The soft knocking continued. Dan found his voice at last. "Go away, Davy--go away," he said, hoarsely. There was a short pause, and then there came from without an answer like a sob. "I'm going, Mastha Dan."