Then they stopped as if in fear and dread.
But Tom whistled a long, low whistle, and three figures, muffled in oil-skins, stole along the gangway and stepped silently on deck.
Then Tom sprang a small bull's-eye lantern, and let its light shine right in front of him, so that no one meeting him could have told who or what was stealing up behind.

In the same quiet way he led the little party down a ladder to the deck below, and then beneath hammocks filled with sleeping sailors, and along a passage, until he came to a door, which he carefully unlocked, and soon afterwards locked again.
[Illustration] * * * * * By midnight next night the _Valhalla_ was far out at sea, bearing to the north, for Captain Staysail did not mean to touch at any of the English or Scotch ports on this voyage.
The weather at first was very beautiful, and so it remained, with a calm sea and hardly a breath of wind, until nearly sunset of the second day.
Then clouds began to bank up, dark and threatening, and the glass--so Webb, the first mate, reported to the captain--was going tumbling down.
"We are going to have a blow, sir," he said, "and it's coming up sharp behind us.

I reckon, sir, we'll have a ten-knotter afore the middle watch is called!" "Well, then, have the fires banked, Mr.Webb, as soon as the wind is strong enough to get way on her.

I wouldn't set too much sail, and if it does come a gale, I'd ease her right away.

You know what she can do, Mate." "Ay, ay, sir!" "Well, I think that's all." But the mate didn't move.
"Anything else, Mr.Webb ?" "There is something else, sir," said the mate rather sheepishly.
"Well, out with it.