"Pugh," he said, holding out his cigar-case, for several of the men were standing about, and he thought it better not to seem to be making a communication, "I've got something on my mind, and of all the men on board you are the one I have chosen to make my confidant."

Dutch's eyes brightened, and he turned to the captain eagerly.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Nothing--only listen. Perhaps this is only a mare's nest; but I've had so much to do with men, that I am rather a keen observer."

"Is there any danger--anything wrong?" exclaimed Dutch, glancing involuntarily towards his wife.

"Danger or no danger," replied the captain, "life is very uncertain, and if you will excuse me for saying it, I don't think you would like to die, or see her die,"--he nodded in the direction of the spot where Hester was sitting--"without clasping hands once more."

STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

A MAN OVERBOARD.

Dutch turned pale as ashes, and closed his eyes for a few moments; then turning an angry look upon the captain, he exclaimed--

"You have no right to intrude in this way upon my private feelings, Captain Studwick."

"Not, perhaps, between man and man, Pugh; but I speak as one who would give all he has to recall his poor wife, who died while he was at sea, after parting from her in anger."

"For heaven's sake, be silent!" panted Dutch, grasping his arm.

"She looks, poor little woman," continued the captain, paying no heed to his appeal, "as if a few weeks' neglect from you will kill her."

"I cannot, I will not listen to you," said Dutch, hoa.r.s.ely, and with the veins in his temples swelling.

"I will say no more about that, then," said the captain, "but confide to you what I wish to say."

"Go on."

"Well, I may be wrong, but I have been trying to think it out ever since we started, and I have said nothing to Parkley because I am so uncertain."

"I do not understand you," said Dutch, looking at him curiously.

"I hardly understand myself," replied the captain; "but I will try to explain. In the first place, you or we have made a deadly enemy in our Cuban acquaintance."

"Undoubtedly," exclaimed Dutch.

"One who would do anything to serve his ends--to stop us from getting to the place Oak.u.m professes to know."

"I am sure he would."

"He would atop us at any cost."

"If he could; but we were too quick for him, and he has not stopped us."

"That's what troubles me."

"How troubles you? Why should that cause uneasiness?" said Dutch.

"Because he strikes me as being a man of such diabolical ingenuity that he would have found, if he had wished, some means of circ.u.mventing us before we started; and hence, as you know, I have carefully scanned every ship we neared, or steamer that pa.s.sed us."

"Yes, I know all that," said Dutch, growing excited; "but we have been too much for him."

"I fear not," said Captain Studwick.

"Then you think we are in danger from him still?"

"I do, and that he would not stop at murder, or sinking the ship, to gain his ends."

"I believe not," said Dutch, moodily. "But you have found out something?"

"Not yet."

"You know of something, then, for certain?"

"Not yet."

"Speak, man," exclaimed Dutch, impatiently. "You torture me with your riddles. What is it you think?"

"Don't speak so loud," said the captain; "and don't look round and start when I tell you, but smoke quietly, and seem like me--watching those bonito playing below."

Dutch nodded.

"Go on," he said in a low voice.

"I will explain, then," said the captain. "But first I believe this: we have not been stopped or overtaken by Laure, because--"

"Because what?"

"We have the danger we shunned here on board."

In spite of the feelings that had troubled him, the deep fervent love for his wife a.s.serted itself at the words of Captain Studwick, and Dutch Pugh made a step in her direction, as if to be ready to protect her from harm, before he recollected himself, and recalled that there could be no immediate danger.

"What do you mean?" he exclaimed then, eagerly.

"That's a larger one than I've seen yet," said the captain, pointing with his cigar down into the clear water. "Oak.u.m, ask Mr Jones to get up the grains, and let any of the men who like try to strike a few of the fish."

"Ay, ay, sir," exclaimed Oak.u.m.

"Didn't I warn you to be quiet?" said the captain. "Our safety and success depend on keeping our enemy in ignorance that we suspect him."

"I beg pardon," said Dutch, taking his double-gla.s.s from its case, adjusting it, and watching the fish play about; by its help seeing them swimming together, rising, diving, and chasing one another through the water, which was of all shades, from the faintest aquamarine and pale turquoise to the richest, deepest sapphire blue. "I am impulsive; but I will control myself. Go on. Whom do you suspect?"

"That Cuban, of course."