"Not here!"
"No, sir."
"He can't be far off."
Somers entered the state-room. Certainly the prisoner was not there; nor was there any indication of the means by which he had departed. The partitions between this and the adjoining state-rooms were undisturbed. The door had been securely locked, and the key was in the pocket of the commanding officer. The traitor could not have crawled through the bull's eye which lighted the room, for it was not more than nine inches in diameter.
The marines who had been on guard during the night were summoned. They all told the same story; not a sound had been heard in the room. Both the master's mates who had kept the watches on deck were examined, but they had no information to communicate.
"This is very remarkable," said Somers to his first officer.
"Very remarkable," replied Mr. Hudson, who seemed to be even more bewildered than his commander.
"Where is Captain Walmsley?" asked Somers of the steward.
"I don't know, sir. I 'aven't seen him since 'e hate his supper last night."
"See if he is in his state-room, steward."