"I heard no report whatever." His answer was ready, but his look was quite as disconcerted as Ardan's.
"Well, friend Barbican and friend Michael," said the Captain, very drily as he leered wickedly at both, "put that and that together and tell me what you make of it." "It's a fact!" exclaimed Barbican, puzzled, but not bewildered.

"Why did we not hear that report ?" "Too hard for me," said Ardan.

"Give it up!" The three friends gazed at each other for a while with countenances expressive of much perplexity.

Barbican appeared to be the least self-possessed of the party.

It was a complete turning of the tables from the state of things a few moments ago.