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CHAPTER III. THE CONSPIRACY

NO SHORE leave was granted the crew of the Halfmoon while the vessel lay off

Honolulu, and deep and ominous were the grumblings of the men. Only First

Officer Ward and the second mate went ashore. Skipper Simms kept the men

busy painting and holystoning as a vent for their pent emotions.

Billy Byrne noticed that the passenger had abandoned his daylight strolls on

deck. In fact he never once left his cabin while the Halfmoon lay at anchor until

darkness had fallen; then he would come on deck, often standing for an hour at a

time with eyes fastened steadily upon the brave little yacht from the canopied

upper deck of which gay laughter and soft music came floating across the still

water.

When Mr. Ward and the second mate came to shore a strange thing happened.

They entered a third-rate hotel near the water front, engaged a room for a week,

paid in advance, were in their room for half an hour and emerged clothed in

civilian raiment.

Then they hastened to another hostelry--a first-class one this time, and the

second mate walked ahead in frock coat and silk hat while Mr. Ward trailed

behind in a neat, blue serge sack suit, carrying both bags.

At the second hotel the second mate registered as Henri Theriere, Count de

Cadenet, and servant, France. His first act thereafter was to hand a note to the

clerk asking that it be dispatched immediately. The note was addressed to

Anthony Harding, Esq., On Board Yacht Lotus.

Count de Cadenet and his servant repaired immediately to the count's rooms,

there to await an answer to the note. Henri Theriere, the second officer of the

Halfmoon, in frock coat and silk hat looked every inch a nobleman and a

gentleman. What his past had been only he knew, but his polished manners, his

knowledge of navigation and seamanship, and his leaning toward the ways of the

martinet in his dealings with the men beneath him had led Skipper Simms to

assume that he had once held a commission in the French Navy, from which he

doubtless had been kicked--in disgrace.

The man was cold, cruel, of a moody disposition, and quick to anger. He had been

signed as second officer for this cruise through the intervention of Divine and

Clinker. He had sailed with Simms before, but the skipper had found him too

hard a customer to deal with, and had been on the point of seeking another

second when Divine and Clinker discovered him on board the Halfmoon and after

The Mucker