"Do you know the man who passes under the name of Mulgrum, Mr. Sampson?"
"You mean Pink, the deaf mute? Mr. Nawood pointed him out to me, and I
have seen him about the deck or in the steerage several times."
"Has he been in the engine room at any time since we sailed?" asked
Christy.
"He may have been; but I have not noticed him anywhere in my
department," replied Sampson.
"You will not allow him in the engine or fire room," continued the
captain. "Send him out, drive him out, if necessary, at once."
"Being deaf and dumb, I should suppose he were harmless wherever he
happened to be. Is he--"
"Never mind what he is just now, Mr. Sampson," interposed Christy. "Be
very particular to obey my order in regard to him to the letter; that's
all now. Inform me at once when you are ready to go ahead, and I shall
be on the bridge."
The order which Christy had just given to the engineer was the result of
his reflection since he came down from the bridge. He had been
cudgelling his brains to determine what the conspirators could possibly
do when the decisive moment came, if it should happen to come as he
neared the steamer in the fog, to derange the operations on board.
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