‘Now!’
Ben started, and turning his head, the first thing he saw was the black mask, and not expecting it he gave such a start of surprise and terror that he was on his feet in a moment.
No doubt he thought his infernal majesty had all of a sudden found him out.
‘Murder!’ he said. ‘Oh, Lord; no!’
‘Silence, idiot!’ muttered Blodget, as he placed his hand over Ben’s mouth and cautioned him to quietness.
The sudden consternation of Ben all evaporated before the sounds of Blodget’s voice.
‘You cursed fool,’ said Blodget in his ear, ‘what do you mean by uttering an exclamation of that sort?’
‘I—I didn’t know.’
‘You didn’t know?’
‘No, captain; I think I was in a sort of a brown study, you see, and so I—’