Obtaining a screw-driver and a lantern from one of the engineers, he succeeded in obtaining possession of his stolen bag of gold.  On his return to the cabin, he observed Vernon standing at the bar, and the temptation to give his moral faculties a start could not be resisted.  Purchasing a dozen cigars, he remarked that he had no change, and coolly pulled the bag of gold from his pocket.  Vernon’s astonishment and consternation could not be entirely concealed, as he recognized the bag he had securely deposited in the box with the dead.  Henry took no notice of him, though he heard him say, in a suppressed tone, “The devil is in this boat!”

Henry sought his state-room, where he found Uncle Nathan impatiently waiting to hear the result of the interview.

“There is danger,” said Henry, “and we must be ready to do our duty manfully.”

“Good gracious! you don’t say so!” exclaimed Uncle Nathan.

“We must watch to-night, and, if need be, fight!”

“How you talk!  You don’t think the feller with the sore arm will try to do anything to-night?”

“I fear he will;” and Henry opened his trunk, and took therefrom a pair of revolvers.

“Gracious! will there be any need of pistols?  Couldn’t you reason with them?” exclaimed Uncle Nathan, who, as before hinted, had a great repugnance to the use of deadly weapons.

“I am afraid they will not listen to reason,” said Henry, smiling, in spite of his anxiety.  “If action is necessary, it must be prompt.  I know your heart, my good friend, and I trust your non-resistant notions will not interfere with your duty.  I must rely on your aid in this affair.”

“Sartain.  I will do all I can, if I die for it.  But I think I can get along very well without one of them ’ere things,” said Uncle Nathan, eying the pistols with distrust.

“Very well, I shall not urge you, though I think it would be prudent for you to have one.  As you go to your station, you will oblige me by giving this one to the mulatto boy.”

“Sartain, cap’n,” replied Uncle Nathan, taking the pistol; “I an’t exactly a non-resistance man, only I hate to use pistols;—­not that I’m afeered on ’em; but to take a feller-cretur’s life is a dreadful thing.  You know the New Testament says, ‘Resist not evil,’ and—­”

“Yes, I remember; but now is the time to act, and not to preach.  I shall place myself near Miss Dumont’s state-room, and your party will see that the stern-boat is not disturbed.”

“All right, cap’n, but do be careful about spilling blood!” said Uncle Nathan, who did not like the cool, determined air with which Henry handled his pistols.

“Be assured I will not wantonly take the life of even the most hardened villain; but in defence of Miss Dumont I shall consider that the end will justify the means.”