"He is beyond human aid." "But--but, please, who is he ?" she insisted, clinging to his arm.

"Surely I have seen the man before; what has happened ?" "He was the watchman on the yacht--Masters he said his name was," West explained impatiently.

"He was still alive when I first came, and told me where you were confined.

He tried to serve you when the others left, and was struck down by Hogan." "The others left! Is the boat deserted?
Are we here all alone ?" "Yes; the villains left us both locked into state-rooms to die.

They deserted the yacht, expecting it to sink, and take us both down with it.
The craft is near foundering now, and our only hope is to obtain the open deck at once.