locked　door　looked　at　her　inquiringly。　　She　laid　her　little　hand　on　his　big　rough　onea　sentry　is　but　mortaland　opened　her　brown　eyes　at　him。
  〃The　hospital；〃　she　said。　　〃The　doctor　sent　me〃；　and　before　he　could　answer；　her　white　figure　vanished　down　the　hatch；　and　passed　round　the　bulkhead；　behind　which　lay　the　sick　man。
  CHAPTER　IV。
  THE　HOSPITAL。
  The　hospital　was　nothing　more　nor　less　than　a　partitioned　portion　of　the　lower　deck；　filched　from　the　space　allotted　to　the　soldiers。　It　ran　fore　and　aft；　coming　close　to　the　stern　windows；　and　was；　in　fact；　a　sort　of　artificial　stern　cabin。　　At　a　pinch；　it　might　have　held　a　dozen　men。
  Though　not　so　hot　as　in　the　prison；　the　atmosphere　of　the　lower　deck　was　close　and　unhealthy；　and　the　girl；　pausing　to　listen　to　the　subdued　hum　of　conversation　coming　from　the　soldiers'　berths；　turned　strangely　sick　and　giddy。　　She　drew　herself　up；　however；　and　held　out　her　hand　to　a　man　who　came　rapidly　across　the　misshapen　shadows；　thrown　by　the　sulkily　swinging　lantern；　to　meet　her。　　It　was　the　young　soldier　who　had　been　that　day　sentry　at　the　convict　gangway。
  〃Well；　miss；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　here；　yer　see；　waiting　for　yer。〃
  〃You　are　a　good　boy；　Miles；　but　don't　you　think　I'm　worth　waiting　for？〃
  Miles　grinned　from　ear　to　ear。
  〃Indeed　you　be；〃　said　he。
  Sarah　Purfoy　frowned；　and　then　smiled。
  〃Come　here；　Miles；　I've　got　something　for　you。〃
  Miles　came　forward；　grinning　harder。
  The　girl　produced　a　small　object　from　the　pocket　of　her　dress。　If　Mrs。　Vickers　had　seen　it　she　would　probably　have　been　angry；　for　it　was　nothing　less　than　the　captain's　brandy…flask。
  〃Drink；〃　said　she。　　〃It's　the　same　as　they　have　upstairs；　so　it　won't　hurt　you。〃
  The　fellow　needed　no　pressing。　　He　took　off　half　the　contents　of　the　bottle　at　a　gulp；　and　then；　fetching　a　long　breath；　stood　staring　at　her。
  〃That's　prime！〃
  〃Is　it？　　I　dare　say　it　is。〃　She　had　been　looking　at　him　with　unaffected　disgust　as　he　drank。　　〃Brandy　is　all　you　men　understand。〃　Milesstill　sucking　in　his　breathcame　a　pace　closer。
  〃Not　it；〃　said　he；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　little　pig's　eyes。　〃I　understand　something　else；　miss；　I　can　tell　yer。〃
  The　tone　of　the　sentence　seemed　to　awaken　and　remind　her　of　her　errand　in　that　place。　　She　laughed　as　loudly　and　as　merrily　as　she　dared；　and　laid　her　hand　on　the　speaker's　arm。　　The　boyfor　he　was　but　a　boy；　one　of　those　many　ill…reared　country　louts　who　leave　the　plough…tail　for　the　musket；　and；　for　a　shilling　a　day；　experience　all　the　〃pomp　and　circumstance　of　glorious　war〃reddened　to　the　roots　of　his　closely…cropped　hair。
  〃There；　that's　quite　close　enough。　　You're　only　a　common　soldier；　Miles；　and　you　mustn't　make　love　to　me。〃
  〃Not　make　love　to　yer！〃　says　Miles。　　〃What　did　yer　tell　me　to　meet　yer　here　for　then？〃
  She　laughed　again。
  〃What　a　practical　animal　you　are！　　Suppose　I　had　something　to　say　to　you？〃
  Miles　devoured　her　with　his　eyes。
  〃It's　hard　to　marry　a　soldier；〃　he　said；　with　a　recruit's　proud　intonation　of　the　word；　〃but　yer　might　do　worse；　miss；　and　I'll　work　for　yer　like　a　slave；　I　will。〃
  She　looked　at　him　with　curiosity　and　pleasure。　　Though　her　time　was　evidently　precious；　she　could　not　resist　the　temptation　of　listening　to　praises　of　herself。
  〃I　know　you're　above　me；　Miss　Sarah。　　You're　a　lady；　but　I　love　yer；　I　do；　and　you　drives　me　wild　with　yer　tricks。〃
  〃Do　I？〃
  〃Do　yer？　　Yes；　yer　do。　　What　did　yer　come　an'　make　up　to　me　for；　and　then　go　sweetheartin'　with　them　others？〃
  〃What　others？〃
  〃Why；　the　cuddy　folkthe　skipper；　and　the　parson；　and　that　Frere。　I　see　yer　walkin'　the　deck　wi'　un　o'　nights。　　Dom　'um；　I'd　put　a　bullet　through　his　red　head　as　soon　as　look　at　un。〃
  〃Hush！　　Miles　dearthey'll　hear　you。〃
  Her　face　was　all　aglow；　and　her　expanded　nostrils　throbbed。　Beautiful　as　the　face　was；　it　had　a　tigerish　look　about　it　at　that　moment。
  Encouraged　by　the　epithet；　Miles　put　his　arm　round　her　slim　waist；　just　as　Blunt　had　done；　but　she　did　not　resent　it　so　abruptly。　Miles　had　promised　more。
  〃Hush！〃　she　whispered；　with　admirably…acted　surprise〃I　heard　a　noise！〃　and　as　the　soldier　started　back；　she　smoothed　her　dress　complacently。
  〃There　is　no　one！〃　cried　he。
  〃Isn't　there？　　My　mistake；　then。　　Now　come　here；　Miles。〃
  Miles　obeyed。
  〃Who　is　in　the　hospital？〃
  〃I　dunno。〃
  〃Well；　I　want　to　go　in。〃
  Miles　scratched　his　head；　and　grinned。
  〃Yer　carn't。〃
  〃Why　not？　　You've　let　me　in　before。〃　〃Against　the　doctor's　orders。　He　told　me　special　to　let　no　one　in　but　himself。〃
  〃Nonsense。〃
  〃It　ain't　nonsense。　　There　was　a　convict　brought　in　to…night；　and　nobody's　to　go　near　him。〃
  〃A　convict！〃　She　grew　more　interested。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃
  〃Dunno。　　But　he's　to　be　kep'　quiet　until　old　Pine　comes　down。〃
  She　became　authoritative。
  〃Come；　Miles；　let　me　go　in。〃
  〃Don't　ask　me；　miss。　　It's　against　orders；　and〃
  〃Against　orders？　　Why；　you　were　blustering　about　shooting　people　just　now。〃
  The　badgered　Miles　grew　angry。　　〃Was　I？　　Bluster　or　no　bluster；　you　don't　go　in。〃　　She　turned　away。　　〃Oh；　very　well。　　If　this　is　all　the　thanks　I　get　for　wasting　my　time　down　here；　I　shall　go　on　deck　again。〃
  Miles　became　uneasy。
  〃There　are　plenty　of　agreeable　people　there。〃
  Miles　took　a　step　after　her。
  〃Mr。　Frere　will　let　me　go　in；　I　dare　say；　if　I　ask　him。〃
  Miles　swore　under　his　breath。
  〃Dom　Mr。　Frere！　　Go　in　if　yer　like；〃　he　said。　　〃I　won't　stop　yer；　but　remember　what　I'm　doin'　of。〃
  She　turned　again　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　and　came　quickly　back。
  〃That's　a　good　lad。　　I　knew　you　would　not　refuse　me〃；　and　smiling　at　the　poor　lad　she　was　befooling；　she　passed　into　the　cabin。
  There　was　no　lantern；　and　from　the　partially…blocked　stern　windows　came　only　a　dim；　vaporous　light。　　The　dull　ripple　of　the　water　as　the　ship　rocked　on　the　slow　swell　of　the　sea　made　a　melancholy　sound；　and　the　sick　man's　heavy　breathing　seemed　to　fill　the　air。　　The　slight　noise　made　by　the　opening　door　roused　him；　he　rose　on　his　elbow　and　began　to　mutter。　Sarah　Purfoy　paused　in　the　doorway　to　listen；　but　she　could　make　nothing　of　the　low；　uneasy　murmuring。　　Raising　her　arm；　conspicuous　by　its　white　sleeve　in　the　gloom；　she　beckoned　Miles。
  〃The　lantern；〃　she　whispered；　〃bring　me　the　lantern！〃
  He　unhooked　it　from　the　rope　where　it　swung；　and　brought　it　towards　her。　At　that　moment　the　man　in　the　bunk　sat　up　erect；　and　twisted　himself　towards　the　light。　　〃Sarah！〃　he　cried；　in　shrill　sharp　tones。　〃Sarah！〃　and　swooped　with　a　lean　arm　through　the　dusk；　as　though　to　seize　her。
  The　girl　leapt　out　of　the　cabin　like　a　panther；　struck　the　lantern　out　of　her　lover's　hand；　and　was　back　at　the　bunk…head　in　a　moment。　The　convict　was　a　young　man　of　about　four…and…twenty。　His　handsclutched　convulsively　now　on　the　blanketswere　small　and　well…shaped；　and　the　unshaven　chin　bristled　with　promise　of　a　strong　beard。　His　wild　black　eyes　glared　with　all　the　fire　of　delirium；　and　as　he　gasped　for　breath；　the　sweat　stood　in　beads　on　his　sallow　forehead。
  The　aspect　of　the　man　was　sufficiently　ghastly；　and　Miles；　drawing　back　with　an　oath；　did　not　wonder　at　the　terror　which　had　seized　Mrs。　Vickers's　maid。　　With　open　mouth　and　agonized　face；　she　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin；　lantern　in　hand；　like　one　turned　to　stone；　gazing　at　the　man　on　the　bed。
  〃Ecod；　he　be　a　sight！〃　says　Miles；　at　length。　　〃Come　away；　miss；　and　shut　the　door。　　He's　raving；　I　tell　yer。〃
  The　sound　of　his　voice　recalled　her。
  She　dropped　the　lantern；　and　rushed　to　the　bed。
  〃You　fool；　he's　choking；　can't　you　see？　　Water！　　give　me　water！〃
  And　wreathing　her　arms　around　the　man's　head；　she　pulled　it　down　on　her　bosom；　rocking　it　there；　half　savagely；　to　and　fro。
  Awed　into　obedience　by　her　voice；　Miles　dipped　a　pannikin　into　a　small　puncheon；　cleated　in　the　corner　of　the　cabin；　and　gave　it　her；　and；　without　thanking　him；　she　placed　it　to　the　sick　prisoner's　lips。　He　drank　greedily；　and　closed　his　eyes　with　a　grateful　sigh。
  Just　then　the　quick　ears　of　Miles　heard　the　jingle　of　arms。　〃Here's　the　doctor　coming；　miss！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　hear　the　sentry　saluting。　Come　away！　　Quick！〃
  She　seized　the　lantern；　and；　opening　the　horn　slide；　extinguished　it。
  〃Say　it　went　out；〃　she　said　in　a　fierce　whisper；　〃and　hold　your　tongue。　Leave　me　to　manage。〃
  She　bent　over　the　convict　as　if　to　arrange　his　pillow；　and　then　glided　out　of　the　cabin；　just　as　Pine　descended　the　hatchway。
  〃Hallo！〃　cried　he；　stumbling；　as　he　missed　his　footing；　〃where's　the　light？〃
  〃Here；　sir；〃　says　Miles；　fumbling　with　the　lantern。　　〃It's　all　right；　sir。　It　went　out；　sir。〃
  〃Went　out！　　What　did　you　let　it　go　out　for；　you　blockhead！〃　growled　the　unsuspecting　Pine。　　〃Just　like　you　boobies！　　What　is　the　use　of　a　light　if　it　'goes　out'；　eh？〃　As　he　groped　his　way；　with　outstretched　arms；　in　the　darkness；　Sarah　Purfoy　slipped　past　him　unnoticed；　and　gained　the　upper　deck。
  CHAPTER　V。
  THE　BARRACOON。
  In　the　prison　of　the　'tween　decks　reigned　a　darkness　pregnant　with　murmurs。　The　sentry　at　the　entrance　to　the　hatchway　was　supposed　to　〃prevent　the　prisoners　from　making　a　noise；〃　but　he　put　a　very　liberal　interpretation　upon　the　clause；　and　so　long　as　the　prisoners　r