There was a bang on the deck just above their heads, and a soft footfall was heard. A moment later Dudley thought he detected a step on the tiny ladder which led down to the cabin in which they lay. He listened intently, his finger on the butt of his revolver, and then started to his feet as a knock sounded on the door. The sudden and unexpected sound startled them both, and brought Mr. Blunt to a sitting position.
"Come in," he called softly, slipping his own weapon from its pouch and facing the door. "Come in at once!"
A hand fumbled in the darkness for the latch, the handle turned, and in a trice the door flew open. For a second the youth who appeared stood perfectly still, blinking at the lantern. Then, with a quick movement, the young fellow, who had so bravely swum from the other vessel, entered the cabin, and swung the door to again. He was breathless with his exertions, for it had been no easy matter to climb aboard. Then, too, he was in the highest pitch of excitement, for he knew that his warning had arrived not an instant too soon. He stood there, the water streaming from him and forming a rapidly increasing pool on the floor. He opened his mouth to speak, when Dudley staggered back a step, looked incredulously at the stranger, and then uttered a cry of astonishment.
"DUDLEY LOOKED INCREDULOUSLY AT THE STRANGER,
AND THEN UTTERED A CRY OF ASTONISHMENT"
"Joyce! You here! This is strange!"
"Dudley! Dudley Compton!"
The recognition was mutual. In spite of Harold Joyce's half-drowned appearance, Dudley knew him the instant he set eyes on the strange apparition at the doorway of the cabin, while the lad who had so bravely swum across to give his warning needed no second view of the sturdy, bronzed figure standing, revolver in hand, just beneath the swaying lantern. In a flash he knew that he was face to face with the old school friend whom he had wronged, the lad whose future had been darkened by a cloud which he, Harold Joyce, could have dispelled had he had the courage to confess his crime. It was a moment of intense interest in both their young lives, and it is not to be wondered at that, in spite of the urgency of the situation, of the need for instant action, these two young fellows stared in amazement at each other as if they were spellbound. Then Harold suddenly found his tongue.