Part 26 (1/2)

Mark lay still a bit, but did not go on deck, for he dropped off into a deep sleep, which seemed only to have lasted five hly told hi the lanthorn in his eyes as he awoke, puzzled and confused at the rough way in which his fellow-officer spoke Then with a start he grasped the reality

It was not the lieutenant holding the light, but sorowled,--”Make so oing overboard D'yer see this? Guess you do Mind it don't go off”

There was no need for guessing; the object na a pistol barrel, whose muzzle was about two feet from the lad's head

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A CONFUSED AWAKENING

”Now then, out you come”

Mark Vandean did come out of the bunk in remarkably quick time, but he was still confused, and his brain refused to solve the puzzle before hiether The young officer resented being spoken to in this rough er with an Ahty a tone as he could assu here?”

”Coht,” cried the hter ”Who'm I, eh, my bantam cock? Waal, I'm Cap'n Ephrum Bynes, o' Charleston, South Car'lina That's who I a a set o' sarcy Britishers out o'

my shi+p Now you know that”

”Where's Lieutenant Russell?”

”Down in the boat, ot to know Say another word, and I'll have you pitched into the sea a hih hands seized Mark on the instant, and as a s of the Yankee skipper ascending the coed on deck, his heart beating wildly as he tried to pierce the darkness around in search of his coh his eyes wandered in search of the bright star-like lamp of the _Nautilus_, it was not to be seen The nextoff shore, hot but powerful enough to be acted upon, and in those brief moments he knew that the vessel ht He was suddenly lifted fro out with his fists, but all in vain

”Over with him!” cried the Yankee skipper, and a cry escaped fro out over the side of the schooner, to fall, he expected, splash into the sea He had tiencies, but his fall was partly upon soroan came from close to his ear as he looked up and saw the lanthorn resting on the schooner's bulwark, and several faces staring down

”My co voice, ”if you ever ketch hilass o'

liquor with him if ever he comes our way--Now then, shove off, you there forward If you stop another h your bottogled up into a sitting position, he felt the boat begin to move

”Here, ahoy, below there! You'd best lay your head to the north,” caht was suddenly hidden or put out ”Your skipper nals when the wind rose, and we answered 'em for you

Get your oars out sharp, or you won't overtake them this year”

Then all was silence and darkness save where theover the stern leam with phosphorescence, and raised up ripples of pale laht

”Who's that?” said Mark, in a whisper

”On'y me, sir,” replied a faroan

”Toot us out o' reach o' that pig o' ballast”

”But, Tom,” cried Mark, excitedly, ”what does it mean? Where's Mr Russell?”