What my feelings were I cannot describe; but it was hardly in terror so much as with a kind of resignation that I made my way to Curtis on the forecastle, and made him aware that the alarming character of our situation was now complete, as there was enough explosive matter on board to blow up a mountain.

Curtis received the information as coolly as it was delivered, and after I had made him acquainted with all the particulars said,-- "Not a word of this must be mentioned to any one else, Mr.Kazallon, where is Ruby now ?" "On the poop," I said.
"Will you then come with me, sir ?" Ruby and Falsten were sitting just as I had left them.

Curtis walked straight up to Ruby, and asked him whether what he had been told was true.
"Yes, quite true," said Ruby, complacently, thinking that the worst that could befall him would be that he might be convicted of a little smuggling.
I observed that Curtis was obliged for a moment or two to clasp his hands tightly together behind his back to prevent himself from seizing the unfortunate passenger by the throat; but suppressing his indignation, he proceeded quietly, though sternly, to interrogate him about the facts of the case.

Ruby only confirmed what I had already told him.

With characteristic Anglo-Saxon incautiousness he had brought on board with the rest of his baggage, a case containing no less than thirty pounds of picrate, and had allowed the explosive matter to be stowed in the hold with as little compunction as a Frenchman would feel in smuggling a single bottle of wine.