"All except one, sir," replied Mr. Quail, whose face wore a very ashy hue and alarmed expression.
"Who is it?"
"Mr. Manfredi, sir; he is nowhere on deck."
"'Twas his watch, was it not?" said Phillips, starting.
"Yes, sir."
"Good Heavens, can it be?" exclaimed the captain, in an agitated voice, as the threat of Sharkey occurred to him. "If there has been foul play to-night, I say woe to the perpetrator of it!"
Some one now uttered a snorting laugh in the dark.
"Let us search below," said the doctor, taking the steward's lantern, and proceeding to examine in person.
He did so, and soon returned to report that no trace of Adrian Manfredi could be found, so the crew were dismissed.
"Who was the person that called out 'Man overboard?'—who saw him last?" demanded the captain, as they descended to the cabin.