his watchful servant was seated. He knew
that Tessa would be alone in a few minutes, and he was quite satisfied
to wait till Chard and the Dane left her free.

He lay back in the lounge, and lazily conversed with Malua. Then Chard,
who had been watching him keenly, rose from his seat.

"Pray excuse me for a few minutes, Miss Remington. Even _your_ charming
society must not make me forget business."

He spoke so loudly that Carr could not fail to hear him, but he was
quite prepared, and indeed had been on the alert.

Chard walked up to within a few feet of the trader.

"I want you to come below, Mr. Carr, and pick out your trade goods for
the Mortlocks."

Harvey leant back in his lounge. "I don't think I shall require any
goods for the Mortlocks Islands, Mr. Chard."

"What do you mean?" and Chard's face flushed with anger.

"I mean exactly what I say," replied Carr nonchalantly. "I say that I
shall not want any trade goods for the Mortlocks Islands. I have decided
not to take another station from the firm of Hillingdon and McFreeland.
I have had enough of them--and enough of you."

Chard took a threatening step towards him.

"Stand back, Mr. Chard. I am not a man to be threatened."

Something in his eyes warned the supercargo, whose temper, however, was
rapidly taking possession of him.

"Very well, Mr. Carr," he said sneeringly; "do I understand you to say
that you refuse to continue your engagement with our firm?"

"I do refuse."

"Then, by God, I'll dump you ashore at the first island we sight. The
firm will be glad to be rid of you."

"I don't doubt the latter part of your assertion; but their satisfaction
will be nothing to equal mine," he said with cutting irony. "But you'll
not 'dump' me ashore anywhere. I am going to land at Ponape, and
nowhere else."

Again Chard took a step nearer, his face purpling with rage; and then,
as Hendry came to his side with scowling eyes, Tessa quickly slipped
past them, and stood near her lover.

"You'll land at Ponape, will you?" sneered the supercargo, "It's lucky
for you we are not in port now, for I'd kick you ashore right-away."

The insult had the desired effect, for, weak as he was, Harvey sprang
forward and struck Chard full upon the mouth, but almost at the same
moment the captain, who had quietly possessed himself of a brass
belaying-pin, dealt him a blow on the back of the neck which felled him
to the deck, and then bending on one knee, he would have