Mr. Mulliner,” he said with alacrity, “but what has happened?”

“The captain has come to his senses again,” was the rejoinder in a rather uneasy tone, as Mr. Mulliner cut at the ropes, keeping at the work till Jack was free.

“I thought—that is I am sure I heard a shot in the night,” pursued Jack.

The officer’s reticence increased.

“That was nothing,” he said. “I wouldn’t be too curious. Just be glad that the captain has ordered you set at liberty.”

“He had no right to ever order me confined,” cried Jack hotly.

“That’s as it may be. On the high seas whatever he says goes. However, my advice is to keep quiet about this incident. I’m sure the skipper will.”

“I’ll not keep quiet about it,” protested Jack vigorously, “it was an outrage. I shall report it to the owners.”

“If you do you’ll only get a reputation as a trouble-maker, and that is a bad thing for a young man to have,” was the reply. “Captain Briggs is not regularly employed by the Jukes’ concern, and he would care little about anything you might say. He was just picked up, as you may say, to run the Cambodian to Rotterdam and back till one of their own captains gets off the sick list.”

This put things in a new light. Jack thought deeply as he sat on the edge of his bunk chafing his burning wrists to restore circulation. After delivering his advice, Mr. Mulliner had taken his departure.

“This is surely a strange ship and a strange voyage,” thought the boy, “and I’ve got a notion that the end isn’t yet, by a long way. There’s some mystery about that shot in the night too. I mean to find out what it was. Anyhow, I’m at liberty again and I suppose that, as Mulliner said, my best plan is not to cross the captain more than I can help, and wait my opportunity to get back at him for all he has made me suffer.”

Then came the thought of Raynor. Jack, although he was famished for food, sat down at the wireless key and sent out broadcast inquiries. But although he talked to a dozen ships, passenger vessels and freighters like the Cambodian, none reported picking up a castaway. It was with a heavy heart indeed that Jack turned away from his instruments.

His appetite was gone, but he told himself that he must eat. He made his way below. 

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