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For a brief space there cah ere made aware of other movements more directly below us Then some one answered: "The watch are all here on the forecastle, Señor It must have been a loose block that rattled"

"Two of you ju was resumed, while athrough the darkness toward us We were unable to perceive their shadows, yet their muttered conversation, as they lay out upon the yard, served to fix its actual position rievously overshot the ruly in our very ears "The Captain is as nervous over those cursed frog-eaters down between decks as if ere anchored off Paree"

"Think you that is the trouble, José?" returned the other in the sprightly voice of a younger man "I tell thee, comrade, 'tis only that bloody demon of an O'Reilly he is fearful of I have sailed with the 'old on, and never expect to see hihted of any Johnny French over his boat in the le prisoner it should cost him his ship That, I lass of wine since first they were put aboard of us Bastante! but he must have acquired a thirst by this tihed sourly

"Poh! I know even a better reason for his going dry than that, Juan He does n't have chance for a drink alongside of that gray-bellied French priest below Caramba! it takes him to polish off the red liquor"

"Ho you that?"

"Saint Christopher! ho I? Did I not just s The sojer on guard set hiht air"

I experienced difficulty in repressing a laugh at the words, but the two felloere going down by this ti in their beards because they had discovered nothing wrong as reward for their trip aloft, so I contented h doubtless he had comprehended no word of the conversation

We rested there motionless, with no attempt at speech, for fully twenty led doard fro it carefully overht this ti of a bow the noose sped silently away into the darkness I felt a thrill of delight tingle through ue, distant spar I drew the cord taut and fir us in like a wall A heavy wooden post, with a pulley attachment, stood behind where we rested, probably fitted there for hauling up heavy bales of cotton Creeping back, I wound the slack of the rope about its base, drawing it as tight as possible, and then placed the end in the hands of the observant and wondering priest, who continued to creep after me like a shadow