A PRISONER ON THE SILENT SHIP .sx Another adventure of Leslie Knight , stewardess , and Terry Blake , third officer of the S.S. Tigric .sx LESLIE KNIGHT fastened the suitcase resting on her bunk with a sharp " click , click , " and then , standing erect , took a last , long lingering look around the little cabin .sx She sighed .sx gently and deeply .sx She had been very happy there .sx She remembered the first time she had come to that little cabin .sx How long ago it seemed !sx She remembered how she had been welcomed on her arrival by Terry Blake , who was then the fourth officer , but was now the third officer .sx He had made friends with her on that very first day , and had been so " chummy " that he had given her confidence .sx She sighed again , and with a last pat at her hair beneath her demure little hat , turned and went from the cabin for the last time , as she believed .sx For the crew of the Tigric had been paid off while the ship was in dock , for an indefinite period , to be completely refitted .sx Leslie reached the deck .sx There were few people to be seen only members of the shore gang .sx Leslie was the last of the stewardesses on board , and Terry Blake the last of the officers and men .sx And now , they too , had finished .sx Leslie turned as she heard somebody approaching .sx and saw Terry picking his way across the litter which besprinkled the once immaculate deck , where happy laughing passengers had flirted , danced and sung .sx " If the old hooker could speak , " said Terry , " I fancy her language would not be exactly parliamentary .sx Fancy the Tigric being in such a condition !sx " .sx " She will soon be herself again , Terry , " said Leslie .sx " Brighter and more lovely than ever !sx " " Never the same , " he answered .sx " It's a sad day to-day .sx And I am a bit worried .sx " " What are you worried about ?sx " .sx " Several things .sx Firstly , the people who were to have taken the ship's silver ashore have not turned up .sx I had a letter to the officer in charge to say that there is some misunderstanding about the insurance .sx Of course , it is all right here , it is locked up in the safe in the purser's strong room , and there is a night watchman .sx Still , I feel responsible .sx " " I should think it will be perfectly safe .sx " said Leslie .sx " Then , " went on Terry , " I have an appointment with the shore superintendent .sx And my whole future hangs on the interview .sx " .sx Leslie looked away from him tor a moment her eyes ranging the deserted docks .sx " Perhaps he will promote you to the Morentic , the new boat , " she said .sx " If I get one step I shall be lucky , " Terry answered .sx " Naturally I want to get on the new boat she is the finest the line has ever built .sx I would have better chances there .sx But there is a terrible lot of officers , and a precious few vacancies !sx And what about you ?sx Have you heard anything definite yet ?sx Where are you going to stay ?sx " " I am staying in Southampton to-night , " she replied .sx " Like you , I have to see one of the ' bosses ' although nobody so important as the superintendent .sx I have been told to stand by till the morning when I shall know my fate .sx " " I know a good berth that might be going , and might suit you , " said Terry .sx But when she asked him what it was , he chuckled and changed the subject .sx They went ashore together and parted in the town , having arranged to meet next day .sx Terry had several things to do that evening , .sx he said , but was strangely reticent about them .sx Leslie spent a solitary time .sx She fixed up a room in which to spend the night , and then set forth in search of something to eat .sx It was a lonely meal .sx After she had finished she went for a stroll .sx Unconsciously , her footsteps led back to the docks .sx The Tigric was acting like a magnet .sx She found herself standing on the quay gazing up at the black mass which had been her home for so many happy months .sx The ship itself was in total darkness , except for a solitary oil lamp burning at the head of the one gangway which was run out .sx She stood there looking thinking of her old adventures , of all the people she had known there .sx And she even thought of the ship's cat !sx The cat !sx What had happened to it ?sx Leslie found herself wondering .sx It was an animal with a reputation , and a great favourite with everybody .sx Leslie had determined some time before to see that the cat was looked after ; but the matter had quite escaped her memory , probably because " Patrick , " as the animal was called , had kept out of sight during the recent upheavals .sx Goodness !sx Was it still on board ?sx Hastily she felt in her bag for the electric torch she had learnt to carry on the ship , and then set foot on the gangway to go aboard .sx She had gone on board the ship in many latitudes , and at all times of the day and night but never had it seemed like this .sx There was something almost terrifying in the dark mass .sx lying there beyond the flickering oil light .sx Deserted the light gone out of it !sx But , her mind made up , Leslie was not the one to turn back .sx She reached the light at the top of the gangway and stepped down on to the deck .sx She stood a moment trying to peer through the gloom .sx Where was the watchman ?sx He should have seen her come aboard .sx She would have to explain her presence , for of course he would not know her .sx Suddenly she jumped round , for a voice had cried to her out of the blackness :sx " What do you want ?sx You cannot come on board here !sx " .sx A man came into the dim circle of light , and she supposed he was the watchman , although he certainly did not look like it .sx Usually the men who had this duty were old sailor men ; whereas this man was young , and had not the appearance the sea gives to all its servants .sx " I am a stewardess of the ship , " she answered , " and I have come to take Patrick .sx away .sx " " Patrick ?sx Who's Patrick ?sx " " The cat !sx " she replied .sx .. " He must be looked after , and " .sx " Well you can't !sx " was the rough reply .sx " Orders are nobody to come on board .sx So hop it lively !sx " For a moment Leslie felt inclined to argue .sx Then something instinctively caused her to .sx retrace her steps slowly down the gangway .sx And as she went she thought " I don't believe he's the proper watchman ; there's something wrong .sx What had I better do ?sx I can't raise an alarm , as I know nothing .sx I must watch and see what I can find out .sx " Leslie went across the quay until she thought she was out of sight of the man on the deck of the Tigris .sx Then she suddenly turned aside and hid behind a great pile of rusty iron , which looked like old boilers of some sort .sx Gradually she worked her way back to the ship again , dodging from one hiding-place to another .sx Presently she could see the top of the gangway and , as far as her eyes could see , there was nobody there .sx Still , there had not been on her last visit , and it seemed rash to go aboard in the same manner .sx She crept along the quayside looking for a means to get on board .sx Fortune favoured her , for one of the great iron doors in the side of the ship , near the stern , was open .sx The workmen had been taking something ashore and had omitted to close up after their work was done .sx With a great effort , and with her heart in her mouth , she managed to get through the door , and found herself in pitch darkness in a quite unknown part of the ship .sx For a few minutes she stood still , listening .sx Perhaps the man at the gangway had seen her after all , and she thought that the best thing she could do was to get to some place which she knew .sx Then , with her knowledge of the geography of the Tigris , she would be able to avoid a stranger with ease .sx Fumbling in her bag , she found her torch and was relieved to find that it was in no need of recharging .sx She flashed it around , and then , moving cautiously , went on until she found herself in the well-known main first class alley-way .sx It all seemed very strange and unreal .sx The dark empty cabins with doors hooked back seemed to contain unseen people watching her .sx Her torch gave a very feeble imitation of the strong light she had always seen there when the ship's dynamos were running .sx But , sure in the belief that there was something wrong , and something she could put right she bravely kept on , through alley-way after alley-way , exploring , listening and finding nothing .sx And yet , once or twice she had an idea that there were people on board .sx She could hear nothing but she felt their presence .sx It was .sx quite without reason or explanation , but she felt that she was right .sx She arrived opposite Terry's cabin , and flashed her little torch around inside .sx To her surprise she saw a coat and hat hanging over the edge of the bunk , and , with a thrill , recognised them as those Terry had been wearing when she parted from him that afternoon .sx She stepped inside , and her puzzled glance travelled around the cabin again .sx Then she pounced on a pipe which was lying on the tiny desk built into a corner of the cabin .sx As her hand touched the bowl she realised that it was still warm .sx With a sudden rush of realisation it occurred to her that Terry had been here in his quarters only a very short time before .sx But why ?sx And where was he now ?sx For a moment she stood there , wondering .sx All sorts of theories , suspicions , doubts , crossed her mind .sx Yes , she was sure there was something wrong .sx Where was Terry ?sx While she was still thinking and puzzling she heard somebody approaching .sx For a moment she thought that it was Terry , and was about to cry out to him in her relief when the man tripped over something and his smothered exclamation told her her mistake .sx It was not Terry ; it sounded like the man she had seen at the gangway .sx Quickly Leslie switched off her torch , and waited , holding her breath .sx The man passed the door of the cabin , and , muttering to himself , went on .sx Leslie gave him a moment or two , then followed him , easily enough , since he had a dim light , and she knew her way about .sx Once or twice she was nearly caught , and she just managed to dodge back round corners in time to avoid being seen .sx Finally the man arrived at the iron door in the ship's side by which she had entered .sx With an effort ( it was a big job for one man ) he closed it , and clamped it down .sx Leslie realised that unaided , she could never open it again .sx She was a prisoner when he was back at the gangway .sx Evidently he had been down on the quay , seen the opening , and made it his business to close it up .sx Then the man retraced his steps , passing within reach of Leslie who crouched down , breathless , until he had gone on again .sx Once more she took up the chase , and this time he went straight up on deck , and took up his watch by the gangway .sx Leslie stood in hesitation , and then slowly went back towards the purser's quarters .sx Suddenly she heard a muffled banging , and with a thrill realised that somebody was in the strong room .sx The safe !sx Someone was attempting to force it open !sx The ship's silver , some valuable presentation plate , was there .sx It was clearer now .sx And also why Terry had not spent the evening with her .sx Without a word to anybody he had probably spent the time on board the ship , as he had felt responsible for the security of the safe .sx