A TALK IN THE NIGHT I wondered what awaited us ahead in that black mystery of waters; had they discovered yet our absence on board the _Sea Gull_?
If so, what would Henley do?
Knowing that I had rifled his desk, his one thought upon release would naturally be the recovery of the papers.

Besides, smarting from his bonds, and thirsting for revenge, he would never permit the vessel to depart from these waters without an effort to overtake us.

Private vengeance would outweigh all other considerations.

God pity us if we ever fell into his clutches again.
And there would be no doubt as to the manner of our escape--the trail left was a plain one.

I could imagine the scene on board when the discovery of our escape was first made--the search for the missing mate, the discovery of the loss of the boat, the dangling ropes proving how it had been lowered.