Part 31 (2/2)

It was so dark now that they seeht in the shadohile more out towards the middle of as evidently a broad river--the streaht, sufficiently so for the we can hook on to, sir?” said Tom Fillot

”No, my lad, not yet But I shall directly You be ready”

”Ready it is, sir If I see a chance, shall I ketch hold?”

”_Hist_!”

”What's the matter, sir?”

”Talk lower What's that? It may be enemies”

”Phehistled Tom Fillot, softly ”It was behind ht hold of the overhanging bough of a tree and brought the boat up as they both stood there watching a glearadually was made out to be a lanthorn carried by someone here and there

”Ashore,” whispered Mark

”Afloat,” said Tom ”It's somebody aboard shi+p Hark at that!”

There was the rattle of a chain, apparently being let out through the hawse-holes of a vessel, then a little ht, and silence once more

”What do you make of it, sir?” whispered Toe, plaintive, sony that Mark shuddered

”I can hardly tell,” he said ”I thought at first it was the _Nautilus_”

”No, sir; people on board the _Naughtylass_ don't howl like that”

”Then--no: it can't be! Is it the slaver?” faltered Mark, as his heart beat rapidly with excitears,” whispered Tom Fillot, hoarsely ”Don't make a sound,noith eagerness

”Don't see why not, sir She was bound to go into hiding a bit till our shi+p had gone, and she's crept in here to lie by, and sail perhaps when the tide turns”

”Take a turn with a rope round that branch, Tom,” whispered Mark; ”and not a sound”

”Trust me, sir, for that,” hispered back; and there was a little rustling heard as Mark carefully made his way in the darkness to where Tom Fillot stood

”Sit dohispered Mark ”I want all the men to hear Lean this way, all of you”

There was another rustling sound, and a certain a as Mark whispered softly,--

”Mind, not a hen I've done, or we shall be heard aboard that vessel She's not two hundred yards away”