consul as an invaluable man) was at last hauled on board without mishap;

and the doctor, with civil salutations, took his leave.

The three co-adventurers looked at each other, and Davis heaved a breath

of relief.

'Now let's get this chronometer fixed,' said he, and led the way

into the house. It was a fairly spacious place; two staterooms and a

good-sized pantry opened from the main cabin; the bulkheads were

painted white, the floor laid with waxcloth. No litter, no sign of

life remained; for the effects of the dead men had been disinfected and

conveyed on shore. Only on the table, in a saucer, some sulphur burned,

and the fumes set them coughing as they entered. The captain peered into

the starboard stateroom, where the bed-clothes still lay tumbled in

the bunk, the blanket flung back as they had flung it back from the

disfigured corpse before its burial.

'Now, I told these niggers to tumble that truck overboard,' grumbled

Davis. 'Guess they were afraid to lay hands on it. Well, they've hosed

the place out; that's as much as can be expected, I suppose. Huish, lay

on to these blankets.'

See you blooming well far enough first,' said Huish, drawing back.

What's that?' snapped the captain. 'I'll tell you, my young friend, I

think you make a mistake. I'm captain here.'

The Ebb-Tide