d have more sense than to flatter that girl's
vanity. He has quite deserted us since she came on board at Port
Denison."

Kate, serenely unconscious of the criticisms being passed upon her, was
listening to the purser's description of the excited state of Cooktown,
when Swires appeared, and said to Adlam:

"When are you turning in, sir?"

"In a few minutes, Swires. You can leave my nip and bottle of soda on
the table. I shall not want you any more to-night."

"Very good, sir."

Adlam remained with Kate a few minutes longer, then said good-night,
and went to his cabin. Swires, as usual, had placed a tumbler with some
brandy in it on the table, and beside it lay the soda. The purser took
off his clothes, and got into his thinnest pyjamas, for the cabin was
close; but he had made up his mind to stay in his cabin that night, for
the sole reason that he was now very suspicious of Captain Forreste and
his party, and had made up his mind to suffer the discomfort of a hot
cabin, and the noise of the coaling going on as long as they were on
board. Forreste had told him in the afternoon that he and his party were
staying at Cooktown, much to his satisfaction.

Eight bells struck, and then noise of the falling coals suddenly
ceased--the lumpers were taking the usual half-hour "spell." Adlam
opened the soda, and the listening Swires heard the pop of the cork, and
stole softly into No. 16, where he found the gang awaiting him.

"Well, he's taken his B and S," he said, "and that finishes my part
of the contract." (Earlier in the evening he and Pinkerton had opened
Adlam's door, and the latter had quickly cut the electric communication
of the secret safe. The opening of it later on would not be a difficult
matter to such an expert as the American.)

"And we'll do ours presently," said Capel, who was now quite recovered.
"How long will that dose keep him quiet?" he asked of Forreste.

"Two hours. As soon as you have the work done, Pinky and Cheyne can take
the stuff on shore. I've told the chief steward that we had all thought
of going for a stroll on the beach, but that I did not care about
leaving Mr Capel, and that as our cabin is not very hot, we should not
sleep on deck. When will the coaling start again, Snaky?"

"Twenty minutes or so."

"Very well. Well wait until one o'clock, eh, Barney?"

The Jew nodded, and then Swires left them, and Forreste put out the
electric light.

About half-past one Pinkerton and Cheyn