of course, find out that his mother was killed, and the consequences to Smallbones must be dangerous, as he had no evidence, if Vanslyperken swore that he had murdered his mother; but this arrangement was overthrown by events which we shall now narrate.  It was on the third morning after they sailed, that Vanslyperken walked the deck:  there was no one but the man at the helm abaft.  The weather was extremely sultry, for the cutter had run with a fair wind for the first eight-and-forty hours, and had then been becalmed for the last twenty-four, and had drifted to the back of the Isle of Wight, when she was not three leagues from St Helen’s.  The consequence was, that the ebb-tide had now drifted her down very nearly opposite to that part of the island where the cave was situated of which we have made mention.  Vanslyperken heard the people talking below, and, as usual, anxious to overhear what was said, had stopped to listen.  He heard the name of Smallbones repeated several times, but could not make out what was said.

Anxious to know, he went down the ladder, and, instead of going into his cabin, crept softly forward on the lower deck, when he overheard Coble, Short, and Spurey in consultation.

“We shall be in to-morrow,” said Spurey, “if a breeze springs up, and then it will be too late:  Smallbones must frighten him again to-night.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“He shall go into his cabin at twelve o’clock, that will be the best way.”

“But the corporal.”

“Hush!—­there is someone there,” said Spurey, who, attracted by a slight noise made by Vanslyperken’s boots, turned short round.

Vanslyperken retreated and gained the deck by the ladder; he had hardly been up when he observed a face at the hatchway, who was evidently looking to ascertain if he was on deck.

These few words overheard, satisfied Vanslyperken that Smallbones was alive and on board the cutter; and he perceived how he had been played with.  His rage was excessive, but he did not know how to act.  If Smallbones was alive, and that he appeared to be, he must have escaped from his mother, and, of course, the ship’s company must know that his life had been attempted.  That he did not care much about; he had not done the deed; but how the lad could have come on board! did he not see him lying dead?  It was very strange, and the life of the boy must be charmed.  At all events, it was a mystery which Mr Vanslyperken could not solve; at first, he thought that he would allow Smallbones to come into the cabin, and get a loaded pistol ready for him.  The words, “But the corporal,” which were cut short, proved to him that the corporal was no party to the affair; yet it was strange that the ship’s company could have concealed the lad without the corporal’s knowledge.  Vanslyperken walked and walked, and thought and thought; at last he resolved to go down into his cabin, pretend to go to bed, lock his door, which was not his custom,