The darkness of Erebus fell upon the surging vessels, and men groped at the rails in a blind effort to make out a footing for boarding the sloop.

“Follow me; I want Yellow Rufe alive!” cried Dolores, leaving the wheel and springing to the bulwarks. Instinctively Peters stepped to the wheel, and as he passed his employer he leaned to whisper in his ear:

“Let them once leave these decks, sir, and we’ll up hellum and away!”

Venner’s eyes glittered at the prospect; but he could not see the faces of his friends; he could only hear Pearse’s low tones beside him, and the mumbled words indicated no great agreement in the scheme. Uncertain, his mind confused between desire to escape and desire to see more of Dolores and