packs of cards. Diggers are rough customers, and if
these now on board knew that Forreste and his friends were a gang of
sharpers, they would handle them very severely, and create a fearful
disturbance."

"What is Mr Bernard Capel like?" asked Fraser.

"Oh, a short, black-moustached chap with curly hair, and a hook nose,
wears a lot of jewellery. The lady passengers think that he and Captain
Forreste are most charming men."

"Who are the other two?"

"Pinkerton and Cheyne. They are as well-dressed as the others, but don't
push themselves much--the other two are the bosses of the gang."

Fraser thought a moment or two. Then he spoke.

"I think I ought to tell you, Mr Adlam. I know the man who calls himself
Capel. His real name is Barney Green, and he is a bad lot--gold thief
and coiner. And I advise you to take good care of your safe. I daresay
these four gentlemen have a very interesting collection of safe keys."

Adlam laughed. "Ah, our Company has learnt something by experience.
There, you see, is the safe which is supposed to contain all the money
committed to my care; but there is nothing in it but loose cash; the
safe that does hold all the money is here," and he tapped the varnished
cedar panels of his bunk; "no one, even if he knew the secret, could
get at it without disturbing me. When the strong room of the _Andes_
was broken into five years ago, between Melbourne and Colombo, and six
hundred-weight of gold bars stolen, I set my wits to work, and devised
this idea of mine. Only the captain, chief officer, chief engineer, and
myself, and, of course, the Company's general manager at Sydney, know of
it; even my own bedroom steward has no idea that there is a second safe,
although he turns out my cabin twice a week for a general cleaning. If
he did discover the fact, I should have to shunt him at once, as he is
quite a new hand in the service."

"Well, you have given the secret away to us, Adlam," said Gerrard, with
a laugh, "and I have had some bad luck of late."

The purser laughed in unison, and then turning the key of his door,
rose, went to his bunk, and touched a concealed spring in the heavy
panelling at the back. It at once slid down noiselessly, and revealed
the safe, about the sides of which were a number of electric wires and
bells.

"The current is turned off now," he explained, as he again touched the
panelling, which ascended as quickly and softly as it had fallen; "but
if any one did try