k
when he asks me to run risks." But as he spoke he took out his keys, and
proceeded to open his sideboard lockers--he had already received several
golden tips from Captain Forreste and his friends, and felt certain of
more in the future.

"I told the gentlemen, sir, that I would get into trouble if the purser
or yourself seen me in the alley-way after eight bells, and they said
that I might sit in their state-room until they had finished their
game."

"Oh, well, I suppose I must give in to 'em. Tell 'em not to make too
much noise."

As soon as Swires entered No. 16 with the whisky and sodas, Cheyne
turned the key in the lock.

"Well?" asked Forreste interrogatively, as the steward laid the bottles
down in one of the berths.

Helping himself to a cigar from a box on the table, the man lit it, and
then sat down familiarly.

"Well," he replied, "I've found out that we are going to coal from
a collier at Cooktown--that's one thing. Another is that there is
a dinner-party to be given on shore to the skipper by the saloon
passengers on the night after we get there, and most likely the purser
is going."

"Ah," and Capel's black beady eyes glittered, "that'll be our chance."

"Yes, we'll be coaling for about sixteen hours, beginning in the
afternoon. There will be a dust screen put up just near the purser's
cabin, because one of the bunker shoots is just a little for'ard of his
door--see?"

"Yes," and all four men bent eagerly towards Swires.

"Well, there'll be a thundering clatter with the coals as they come
pouring down from the upper deck, and that will be the time to get in,
cut the wire, and do the job right away. There'll be no one this side of
the dust screen after eleven at night, as most of the passengers will be
ashore at the dinner, and those who don't go will be asleep."

"Supposin' the flamin' purser don't go?" said Cheyne, a small, wiry,
sunburned man, who, although like his confederates was extremely
well-dressed, was an exceedingly illiterate man. He was Australian
born, and from his youth upward, when not occupied in horse-stealing or
thimble-rigging on bush race-courses, had spent the intervening time
in gaol. Pinkerton, who was an American of a somewhat similar type to
Cheyne, but of a more villainous nature, was an expert burglar, and a
very fitting companion to the astute and well-educated Forreste, and the
Jew, Barney Green.

"Well, what if he doesn't?" responded Swires, turning to Forre