“Your cabin, sir.”

“He would hardly have sought refuge there,” said Lord Hastings.

“There is no telling, sir,” replied Frank.  “We may as well have a look.”

“Yes, we may as well have a look,” repeated Lord Hastings.

He led the way forward again and pulled up before the door of his cabin, which was closed.

“Now I could have sworn I left this door open,” said Lord Hastings.

He laid a hand on the knob and turned it; but the door would not open.

“Hm-m-m,” muttered Lord Hastings.  “Somebody is in there all right.  Guess it must be our friend Davis.”  He raised his voice and called:  “Davis.”

There was no reply and Lord Hastings repeated his call.  Still there was no response.

Lord Hastings was beginning to grow angry.

“Davis!” he called a third time, and when there was no answer, he shouted:  “You come out of there this minute or it will be the worse for you.  There is no use pretending you do not hear me.  Come out!”

This time Lord Hastings drew an answer.

“Thank you, sir, but I shall remain where I am,” came back in Davis’ voice.  “It’s very comfortable in here.”

“By Jove!  He’s a pretty cool customer,” muttered Lord Hastings to Frank.

“Yes, he’s cool enough,” responded the lad, “and cold-blooded, too.  Shall we force the door, sir?”

“I don’t like to do that,” replied Lord Hastings, “but I am afraid it will be necessary.  I want to get that fellow tied up safely.”  He raised his voice again.  “Davis,” he said, “if you don’t open that door immediately, I’ll break it down.”

“I wouldn’t try it,” was Davis’ response.  “I have appropriated a pair of your revolvers here and I’ll have a shot at the first head that I see.”

This reply threw Lord Hastings into some consternation.  He turned to Frank.

“There is no use any one getting hurt on the fellow’s account,” he said.  “He’s safe enough in there.  Guess we may as well leave him.”

“We’ll have to get him some time, sir,” said Frank.  “We might as well do it now and have it over with.  Two of us should land him without any trouble.”

“You mean one and a half,” replied Lord Hastings, smiling.  “Don’t forget you are hardly whole with that wound on your head.”

“I think I can prove a little better than a half, anyhow,” Frank smiled back.  “Shall we break the door in, sir?”

“I have a better plan than that,” replied Lord Hastings.  “I’ll blow the lock off.  Stand back out of range of fire from the door.  Davis is likely to shoot through it.”

Frank did as commanded, and drawing his revolver, Lord Hastings placed the muzzle against the lock.

There was a flash, a loud report and Lord Hastings leaped quickly backward.  And it was well that he did so; for a second later there came a second report and a bullet sped through the thin door and imbedded itself in the wall beyond.