"It's very likely," said the old man, walking to the mainmast, and raising his voice for the benefit of all who might be within hearing, "that some inquiries will be made about that man who is not down by name on the ship's articles. As for myself, I don't mean to know anything about him. The rest of you, of course, are at liberty to turn informers, if you wish to. I should be sorry to think any of my men would do so, but I have no authority to dictate what subjects you shall talk about." He had said enough; Mike's secret was perfectly safe. Pickering, the skipper of the brigantine, a "comfortable" looking Englishman, with thin side whiskers, and a general roast-beef appearance, stepped on deck and shook hands with Captain Upton. "Ah! captain, you've got a good cut, I see." "Yes," answered the old man. "We've had greasy luck, and got a couple of nice whales. When did you leave Sydney?" "The same day that you did, in the afternoon. Have you got a strange man on board, captain?" "I don't see any," said our conscientious skipper, glancing innocently forward among the groups of men. "Your harbor police overhauled me pretty severely before I tripped my anchor, and _they_ didn't see any, either." "Yes, I noticed they spent some time on board of you. But there was a mighty stir among them within two hours after you left. The keeper of that public near the landing was arrested for having harbored and concealed him. Some one informed against him, and it was proved that this Galway Mike had been seen near the house the evening before, and so, instead of putting back into the bush, it was thought he had gone on board some vessel." "The Jolly Tar is fallen into melancholy, then, I suppose." "Yes," replied Pickering; "the landlord had his 'ticket' revoked, for he was a lag himself. He was lugged up to Hyde Park Barracks and put into uniform. He will have to serve out his time in the stone quarry." "But don't you think," asked the old man, "that if that convict had been on board the ship, he would have shown himself before this time?" "Yes, he would," said the Englishman, "unless some of your men are parties to his concealment, and furnish him with food. In that case he might be concealed for some time." "So he might," said our captain, dryly. "That's true." "He may be hid somewhere on board at this moment," observed Pickering, in a low and mysterious tone. "I shouldn't wonder," answered Captain Upton, in the same manner. "Or he may be on board the Paramatta." "He wouldn't be likely to run from New South Wales to New Zealand, if he could get any other voyage. There's thirty pound reward offered for his apprehension," said Pickering. "Is there, indeed? That's quite an object. But, come, let's go below and take something. I'm too busy to hunt for the man now, but if I should find him on board before I get to New Zealand, I'll land him there."