“So it ain’t on you,” snarled Hoeseason, when he had finished his search, “but I’ll bet a guinea it ain’t far away. Stand where you are and don’t move as you value your life while I overhaul the bunk.”

A moment later an exclamation of savage delight burst from his bearded lips.

“Ah! Here it is. See, younker, I was bound to find it and—— What the——?”

As the giant of a man stood half-facing him, Jack gathered himself for a crouching leap. He sprang straight at the man’s legs and, catching him entirely by surprise, brought him to the floor with a crash that could be heard above the raging of the storm.

Jack gathered himself for a crouching leap and sprang straight at the man’s legs.—Page [156]

“Bill! Bill!” he shouted.

There was a stir in the bunk above.

“Help me, quick. He’ll be too much for me alone.”

“What in the world, Jack Ready——?”