How about Fismes? Funny the dog wouldn't be awake if some one was there. Dick listened but could hear no gentle snore that would indicate the dog was there as usual. Possibly Fismes had gone out on deck or below. The animal would prowl about at times.
Just then there was a slight stir again at the window. This time there was no mistake—some one was there. What Dick had thought was a head moved slightly. And then through the open door of the stateroom appeared in firm outline the form of a man—a huge hulk of a figure!
And then Dick did a funny thing. The best course was to have kept silence until the figure moved on. Then the Brighton youth could have slipped out of bed, grabbed his revolver and followed on. But he was not sure in his drowsy condition whether it was really a man, and whether it was friend or enemy. It might be only the guard on patrol.
At any rate, Dick sat up in bed, reached for the electric light and snapped on the light. Instantly the intruder, who had been going by the door, swung on his heel and thrust a revolver through the open door.
"Not a word, or I'll blow your brains out," snapped the visitor.
Awakening with a start, Jay jumped up in bed. The newcomer at once swung his revolver to cover him.
"Throw up your hands, and don't say a word," came the command. "If either of you speak, it means death. Not only to you, but to everybody on board. One sound and I'll blow this"—he indicated a whistle tied around his neck on a cord. "Your old boat is well covered from the little ship over yonder. We can blow you out of the water with one little broadside and the world will never know what became of you."
"Who are you?" demanded Jay as he sat on the edge of his bunk with both hands up. The youth was thinking rapidly. What could he do, though, in the face of that ugly looking revolver?
"Never mind who I am," came the reply. "Your game is up. We have cleaned out the Dominion of all her gold. Our ship is on the move now. You will never know us nor catch up to us. A little swim for me and then into a fast motor launch that will take me safely aboard my own ship. Do you get me? The jig is up. You have come too late. The Dominion has been cleaned as clean as a whistle. Haw! Haw!"
He laughed softly. That laugh! Where had Jay and Dick heard it before? Somewhere—this man——