Lady Agatha, who could see into the opening, arose with a scream.
Cleggett, leaping towards the hatchway, was just in time to see two men jump backward from the bottom of the ladder into the murk of the hold.
They had been listening.

Drawing his pistol, and calling to the crew of the Jasper B.to follow him, Cleggett plunged recklessly downward and into the darkness..