I went to bed after a glass or two of weak grog, and made up for the last night's vigil by falling sound asleep.

I had very little kit with me, beyond what I stood up in and could carry in my waterproof pockets, but on Amos's advice I had brought my little nickel-plated revolver.

This lived by day in my hip pocket, but at night I put it behind my pillow.

But when I woke next morning to find us casting anchor in the bay below rough low hills, which I knew to be the island of Colonsay, I could find no trace of the revolver.

I searched every inch of the bunk and only shook out feathers from the mouldy ticking.