“There he is,� he remarked, when Drago had finished the task. “You’ve done that well. He may perhaps get himself loose in the course of an hour or so, although I don’t think he will. But by that time we shall have things arranged so that we shall not care. Come down to the cabin. There is a man there I want to see.�

They went below, the three of them, and when Captain Latell had been caught in his stateroom and made a prisoner before he realized what was going on, Nick went to another cabin.

Here, pistol in hand, he used the barrel to poke a burly man, who lay on his back in the wide berth, snoring in perfect contentment.

The well-built man started up to a sitting posture. The detective promptly knocked him down again.

“Lie where you are, Mr. Spanner!� commanded Nick.

“What does this mean?� spluttered the indignant occupant of the berth. “Who are you, sir?�

“Nick Carter!� replied the detective coolly.

“What?�

This monosyllabic inquiry came with a shriek of amazement, tinged with indignation and fury.

“Keep quiet, Mr. Spanner!â€� admonished Nick. “We have possession of the yacht, and——â€�