"Ah yes; so it is. You may go back to your post, Mateo."
The man, looking neither to right nor left, descended the ladder, swam to shore and retreated behind the rocks again.
Ramon turned to Mr. Cumberford, showing the open face of his watch.
"In five minutes it will be eleven o'clock," he quietly announced.
"Take him to the cage, O'Reilly!"
Two other armed men had joined the engineer on deck and the three now surrounded Ganza and started forward with him.
"Mercy, Cumberford! Save us—save us!" howled Mr. Tupper, frantic with fear. "I can't die now—we ought none of us to die! Give him the launch. Give him the——"
A cry interrupted him. Mason, the man nearest the rail, dropped his gun and staggered back with his hands clasped to his side, from which a stream of blood gushed forth. At the same moment the huge form of Ramon Ganza leaped the rail and dove headforemost into the water.
But everyone else was more interested in the wounded man, who seemed to be badly hurt. Ramon Ganza was forgotten as the girls bent over the poor fellow with anxious looks.
"Have Mason brought to my own cabin, at once," said Madeline to Captain Krell.