ay.

The man in white ran up the gangplank with a paper in one hand and a
malacca cane in the other, and I recognized him as Mr. Trego, the man to
whom I had been introduced in the bank. He met Harris at the foot of the
ladder to the hurricane-deck, and they were right below me, so I could
not avoid hearing what took place between them.

"Call the captain, Mr. Mate," said Trego hurriedly, and, with his voice
lowered, "Here are my papers--get those boxes off the wagon, eef you
please. I am supercargo for the owners. I hold the charter for these
sheep. Queeck--on deck with those boxes of the machinery."

"Oh, cap'n!" called Harris, after he had taken a quick glance at the
paper which Trego thrust before him, and Captain Riggs came out of the
saloon.

"What's up now?" he demanded. "What's this?"

Harris waved his hand toward the paper, and Trego put it before Captain
Riggs.

"Read it," said Trego. "Here are your orders from the company." He leaned
against his cane and twirled his moustache, while Captain Riggs adjusted
his glasses and scanned the papers.

"Get that stuff aboard, lively," said Captain Riggs to Harris, and the
mate gave orders to have the slings thrown outboard.

"Where do they go?" asked Harris.

Captain Riggs looked at Trego inquiringly.

"In the storeroom below--right under the feet of me," said Trego,
stamping his foot.

"Cargo in the storeroom," said Captain Riggs in surprise.

"Eet ees for you to obey," snapped Trego excitedly. "You will please to
see from my papers that I am the commander of all. Read eet again eef you
do not know!" And he shook his malacca cane in the air.

"Get that cargo aboard and stow as this gentleman--Mr.--what is it,
Trego?--as Mr. Trego says. Move navy-style! Keep clear of the side
there, you! Can't you see we've got cargo coming over there!"

"My dear sirs, I beg your pardon," said a familiar voice, and I stepped
to the rail and looked over to see the Rev. Luther Meeker standing at the
edge of the embankment, within a few feet of where Trego, Riggs, and
Harris stood.

"Get out the way!" bawled Riggs to him.

"No offence, I hope," said the missionary, "but is this the steamer
_Kut Sang_?"

"It is," said Riggs, and turned his attention to Harris and Trego, who
were giving orders to the Chinese at the winch.

"Then all is well," said Meeker, and he turned away toward the gangplank,
where the two men were standing with his organ between them, awaiting his