“Then you are blind! Don’t you see that the new brig has been built over one of the scuttles that lead down into the hold?”
“I see it now. I didn’t know what you meant when you pointed so like Hamlet’s ghost.”
“Don’t say a word, or look at it,” whispered Bill, as he placed his stool over the trap, and looked out into the steerage.
The vice-principal passed the brig at this moment, and nothing more was said.
CHAPTER II.
AT THE QUARANTINE STATION.
While these events were transpiring below, the signal had come from the Prince to shorten sail on the schooners, for the squadron was within half a mile of the long mole extending to the southward of the tongue of land that forms the easterly side of the harbor of Barcelona. A signal for a pilot was exhibited on each vessel of the fleet, but no pilot boat seemed to be in sight. As the bar could not be far distant, it was not deemed prudent to advance any farther; and the steamer had stopped her engine.
“Signal on the steamer to heave to, Mr. Greenwood,” said Rolk, the fourth master, as he touched his cap to the first lieutenant, who was the officer of the deck.