in her bosom.

phial, so that it would come out with as little noise as possible, and then placed it carefully "I will get a little sleep if I can," she said. "They have got the note, and it shall be done to-night."

CHAPTER VII.

TYPHUS FEVER.

HE

felon Rufus Dawes had stretched himself in his bunk,

and tried to sleep. But though he was tired and sore, and his head felt like: lead, he could not but keep broad awake. The long pull through the pure air, if it had tired him, had revived him, and he felt stronger; but for all that, the fatal sickness that was on him maintained its hold; his pulse beat thickly, and his brain throbbed with unnatural heat. Lying in his narrow space in the semi-darkness-he tossed his limbs about, and closed his eyes in vain -he could not sleep. His utmost efforts induced only an oppressive stagnation of

thought, through which he heard the voices of his fellow-convicts; while before his eyes was still the burning Hydaspes—that vessel, whose destruction had destroyed for ever all trace of the unhappy Richard Devine.

It was fortunate for his comfort, perhaps, that the man who had been chosen to accompany him was of a talkative turn, for the prisoners insisted upon hearing the story of the explosion a dozen times over, and Rufus Dawes himself had been roused to give the name of the vessel with his own lips. Had it not been for the hideous respect in which he was held, it is possible that he might have been compelled to give his version also, and to join in the animated discussion which took place upon the possibility of the saving of the fugitive crew. As it was, however, he was left in peace, and lay unnoticed, trying to sleep.

The detachment of fifty being on deckairing the prison was not quite so hot as at night, and many of the convicts made up for their lack of rest by snatching a dog-sleep in the bared bunks. The four volunteer oarsmen were allowed to "take it out.”

As yet there had been no alarm of fever. The three seizures had excited some com

ment, however, and had it not been for the counter excitement of the burning ship, it is possible that Pine's precaution would have been thrown away. The "Old Hands"who had been through the Passage before -suspected, but said nothing, save among themselves. It was likely that the weak and sickly would go first, and that there would be more room for those remaining. The "Old Hands" were satisfied.

Three of these old hands were conversing together just behind the partition of Dawes's bunk. As we have said, the berths were five feet square, and each contained six men. No. 10, the berth occupied by Dawes, was situated in the corner made by the joining of the starboard and centre lines, and behind it was a slight recess, in which the scuttle was fixed. His "mates were at present but three in number, for John Rex and the Cockney tailor had been removed to the hospital. The three that remained were now in deep conversation in the shelter of the recess. Of these, the giant-who had the previous night asserted his authority in the prison-seemed to be the chief. His name was Gabbett. He was a returned convict, now on his way to undergo a second sentence for burglary.

The other two were a man named Sanders, known as "the Moocher," and Jemmy Vetch the "Crow." They were talking in whispers, but Rufus Dawes, lying with his head close to the partition, was enabled to catch much of what they said.

At first the conversation turned on the catastrophe of the burning ship and the likelihood of saving the crew. From this it grew

to anecdote of wreck and adventure, and at last Gabbett said something which made the listener start from his indifferent efforts to slumber, into sudden broad wakefulness.

It was the mention of his own name, coupled with that of the woman he had met on the quarter deck, that roused him.

"I saw her speakin' to Dawes yesterday,” said the giant, with an oath. "We don't want no more than we've got. I ain't goin' to risk my neck for Rex's woman's fancies, and so I'll tell her."

"It was something about the kid," says the Crow, in his elegant slang. "I don't believe she ever saw him before. Besides, she's nuts on Jack, and ain't likely to pick up with another man."

"If I thort she was agoin' to throw us over, I'd cut her throat as soon as look at her!" snorts Gabbett, savagely.