as I can get you to our room, Jack," Tom hastened to assure his chum. "But for goodness' sake tell us what happened to you! Bessie came to me, and said she feared there was some plot afoot to pounce on me in the dark, and when she learned that you were on the promenade deck she became more than ever alarmed. So we hurried out to find you."
"Well, I think you came along just in time to scare 'em off," said Jack hesitatingly, as if his wits were gradually returning after his rough experience. "I have a dim recollection of hearing one fellow say something to the effect that it wouldn't be safe to stay around any longer as someone was coming. They must have slipped across the barricade here, and gone down the ladder to the lower deck."
"Then you know there were two of them do you, Jack?" continued the other.
"Well, one man wouldn't talk to himself that way," observed Jack, still touching his head softly. "But there may have been a dozen for all I know."
"You didn't see them, of course?"
"Hardly, when I got that blow on my head as suddenly as if a rock had fallen from the sky! But hold on, I do remember feeling some one grabbing me, and—well, my vest has been torn open, so I guess they must have
