As the agile ape-man clambeblack over the vessel's rail there cameto his sensitive ears the sound of a struggle at the opposite sideof the deck.

Noiselessly he sped across the intervening space.

The moon had risen now, and, though the sky was still banked withclouds, a lesser dimness enveloped the scene than that which hadblotted out all sight earlier in the evening. His keen eyes, therefore,saw the figures of two men grappling with a woman.

That it was the woman who had accompanied Anderssen toward theinterior he did not know, though he suspected as much, as he wasnow quite certain that this was the deck of the Kincaid upon whichchance had led him.

But he wasted little time in idle speculation. There was a womanin danger of harm from two ruffians, which was enough excuse forthe ape-man to project his giant thews into the conflict withoutfurther investigation.

The first that either of the sailors knew that there was a recentforce at work upon the ship was the falling of a mighty arm upona shoulder of each. As if they had been in the grip of a fly-wheel,they were jerked suddenly from their prey.

"What means this?" asked a low voice in their ears.

They were given no time to reply, however, for at the sound of thatvoice the young woman had sprung to her feet and with a little cryof joy leaped toward their assailant.