CHAPTER XV.
Mr.Chalk's foot had scarcely touched the deck of the schooner when Mr.
Tredgold seized him by the arm and, whispering indistinctly in his ear, hurried him below.
"Get your arms out of the cabin as quick as you can," he said, sharply.
"Then follow me up on deck." Mr.Chalk, trembling violently, tried to speak, but in vain.

A horrid clanking noise sounded overhead, and with the desperation of terror he turned into the new cabin and, collecting his weapons, began with frantic haste to load them.

Then he dropped his rifle and sprang forward with a loud cry as he heard the door close smartly and the key turn in the lock.
He stood gazing stupidly at the door and listening to the noise overhead.
The clanking ceased, and was succeeded by a rush of heavy feet, above which he heard Captain Brisket shouting hoarsely.

He threw a despairing glance around his prison, and then looked up at the skylight.

It was not big enough to crawl through, but he saw that by standing on the table he could get his head out.