CHAPTER X.
THE GAME IN THE NEXT ROOM.
When Merry appeared in his stateroom he was greeted with a storm of questions.
"Well, what does this mean ?" "Trying to dodge us ?" "Running away ?" "Muts the whatter with you--I mean what's the matter ?" "Where have you been ?" "Stand and give an account of yourself!" Then he told them a little story that astounded them beyond measure.

He explained how he had taken a fancy to look the steamer over and had fallen in with the engineer.

Then he related how he had visited the engine room and been thrown into the stoke-hole.
But when he told the name of his assailant the climax was capped.
"Harris ?" gasped Rattleton, incredulously.
"Harris ?" palpitated Diamond, astounded.
"Harris ?" roared Browning, aroused from his lazy languidness.
"On this steamer ?" they shouted in unison.
"On this steamer," nodded Frank, really enjoying the sensation he had created.
"He--he attacked you ?" gurgled Rattleton, seeming to forget his recent sickness.
"He did." "And you escaped after being thrown into the stoke-hole ?" fluttered Diamond.
"I am here." "And you didn't kill the cur on sight ?" roared Browning.
"He is in the hold in irons." "Serves him right!" was the verdict of Frank's three friends.
"Well, this is what I call a real sensation!" said the Virginian.

"You certainly found something, Frank!" "Well, that fellow has reached the end of his rope at last," said Harry, with intense satisfaction, once more stretching himself in his bunk.
"That's pretty sure," nodded Jack.

"Attempted murder on the high seas is a pretty serious thing." "He'll get pushed for it all right this time," grunted Browning, beginning to recover from his astonishment.
Then they talked the affair over, and Frank gave them his theory of Sport's presence on the steamer, which seemed plausible.
"This is something rather more interesting than the superstitious man or the Frenchman," said Diamond.
"The superstitious man was interesting at first," observed Merry; "but I've a fancy that he might prove a bore." Then Bruce grunted: "Say, does Fact and Reason err, And, if they both err, which the more?
The man of the smallest calibre Is sure to be the greatest bore." While they were talking, the sound of voices came from the stateroom occupied by the Frenchman.