"Mademoiselle?" said she.
"Is safe," I answered, "but wants your help. Come." I cast the light on Lane. "Can you walk, Lane?"
"Yes," he said; "I'm fit for anything."
"Ellison?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, follow me. If you'd known it, your prison was open for you. Be as silent as you can. There's no time to lose."
As I issued from the doorway, I stopped and took the revolver and cartridge-belt from the dead man, and Ellison followed my example in respect of the other sentry. We reached the deck without a word, and I shut off the lantern. I called to Legrand, and he answered.
"Hush!" he said. "There's been some one along here just now. Be careful."
I told him what had happened, and, as there was no time for more words, stooped to find Mademoiselle's unconscious form. It was not there!
Perplexed, I communicated my discovery to my companions, and we searched in the dark for some minutes. But it then became apparent that she had vanished utterly. I heard Legrand's voice in warning below.