The moon went out. There was one flash of lightning, then horror of darkness. The man's life had shocked to a halt. He did not stir, he did not wink, he did not breathe. Then the blackness lifted, and the moon shone out once more between dark scuds. "Nelson ain't a-board," he said. CHAPTER LXXV ON THE DECK OF THE _MEDUSA_ I The man folded his arms and gazed down at the boy, mildly amused. "Not on board?" gasped Kit faintly. "Where is he, then?" The moon was out again and shining serenely. "Why, where I'd like to be--with his best gurl." He took out a tooth-pick, and began to clean his teeth with gusto. Kit hardly heard. Desperately he clutched the sliding side. It seemed to him as though the world was slipping away from him. If he let go all was lost. _"Mr. Dark!"_ twanged a nasal voice from the deck. The giant leapt round. _"My lord."_ _"What's that boat doing under my quarter?"_ _"A Deal hovel, my lord, asking for brandy."_ Feet came towards the side. _"First time I ever heard of a hovel stopping a King's ship to ask for brandy."_ _"That's what I told him, my lord,"_ came the firm reply. "You didn't!" screamed Kit from far below. "You didn't. Heave to! Heave to! or--" "You'll sink me, I suppose, young gentleman!" Kit looked up. A one-eyed little man was twinkling down at him. II The boy came over the side. He was without hat and in his shirt, a pale stripling, gaunt of cheek, and with flaming eyes. "Liar!" he cried, and transfixed the giant with a finger. The one-eyed little man, one-armed too, four stars on his breast, turned on the boy in a cold blaze. "Remember in whose presence you stand!" he said. "I am Lord Nelson." "He said you weren't on board, sir," cried the boy stubbornly. "I said nothing of the sort, my lord," replied the giant calmly. "I said I wasn't going to stop the way of your lordship's frigate to let a smuggler's brat liquor up." "And quite right too," said Nelson. "What is it the boy wants?" "I understood him to ask for brandy, my lord--for the corpse in the boat." "What! is there a corpse in the boat?" "O yes, my lord--a nice little bit of a corpse. But whether the two young gents killed him and are bringing him off to your lordship for a present, as I ave known done in the Caribbees, or whether they dug him up and took him aboard for ballast, only the young gents know." Those strange eyes dwelt upon the lad sardonically. One thing was plain. Mr. Dark was amusing himself. Nelson seemed not to hear him. "Who are you?" rounding on the boy. "I'm of the same Service as yourself, my lord," replied Kit, white as ice. "A midshipman. My name is Caryll." "What ship?" "The _Tremendous_, my lord." "The _Tremendous_! let's see. What do I know of the _Tremendous_?"