“In not keeping guard over the cabin door. When we were in mid-ocean and no man could escape he were very strict in that way; but now when there is a chance for some bla’guard to steal the secret and swim ashore, it’s leave the cabin unguarded he do be after doing.” “Unguarded!” “I passed there not five minutes ago. There were no one in sight and the place was in darkness. I lit the lamp in the companionway and looked about, for sure I had me suspicions. But there was no one in sight, good or bad.” “That is very strange,” said Ethan. “I was just now speaking to the captain about that very point and understood that the sentry was still a fixture at the cabin door.” He paused a moment, hesitating; then he said quietly: “I will return in a moment.” With quick steps he advanced to the companionway and descended. “Dark!” he muttered, as his eyes tried vainly to pierce the blackness. “And Shamus said he had lit the lamp. This looks strange. Why it would almost seem that some one had”--he caught his breath at the thought--“blown it out.” Creeping along in the darkness toward the commander’s cabin, his groping hands found the door. It was open! He paused, standing upright, unable to think what next to do. Then his ears caught a slight, unmistakable rustling. “Who’s there?” he called sharply. There was no response. The rustling ceased. For a moment he listened intently, then advanced boldly into the cabin. “There is some one here,” he said, clearly. “You might as well acknowledge yourself now as later.” Scarcely had the words left his mouth than he was thrown violently aside, and a form rushed past him through the doorway and up the companion ladder. Ethan shouted a warning to the deck as he scrambled up. Quick footsteps sounded from above, then a sharp cry, and a heavy report. When he gained the deck, he saw Captain Jones, pale of face and with a trickle of blood coming from his forehead, leaning against a gun. The Irish dragoon stood by the taprail, blowing the smoke from the long barrel of a pistol and peering downward into the waters of the harbor. “He’s overboard, sir,” spoke Shamus, quietly. A quick-witted middy had given the word to lower a boat; and when a few moments later this pulled away in search of the daring swimmer, Ethan and Longsword followed the commander below. The companionway lamp was lighted once more, and a search showed the sentry senseless beneath a piece of sail cloth. The lock of the cabin door was broken, but the strong box was securely fastened. “I’ll open it and make sure,” said Captain Jones. When the lid was thrown back, the first object that struck their eyes was a sealed packet; and they drew long sighs of relief.