ot wish to part company with the other two boats, and therefore
Atkins's gibes and threats were passed over in silence, and Oliver
acceded to Hendry's request to let him tow his boat, as with the gentle
breeze, and with the six canoe paddles helping her along, the two could
travel quite as fast as the second mate with his six oars.

And so with a glorious sky of blue above, and over a now smooth and
placid sea, just beginning to ripple under the breath of a gentle
breeze, the boat voyage began.

CHAPTER VII

All that day the three boats made excellent progress, for though the
wind was but light, the sea was very smooth, and a strong northerly
current helped them materially.

As night approached heavy white clouds appeared on the eastern
horizon--the precursors of a series of heavy rain squalls, which in
those latitudes, and at that season of the year--November to March--are
met with almost nightly, especially in the vicinity of the low-lying
islands of the Marshall and Caroline Groups.

Then, as the sun set, the plan of murder that was in the hearts of
the captain and supercargo began to work. During the day they had
been unable to converse freely, for fear of being overheard by the two
firemen, but now the time had come for them to act.

In all the boats' lockers Harvey and Latour had placed a two gallon
wicker-covered jar of rum, and presently Hendry hailed Oliver, whose
boat was still towing astern. It was the first time that he had taken
any notice of the occupants of the other boats since the morning.

"You can give your men some grog if you like, Mr. Oliver," he said, "and
you might as well hail the second mate, and tell him to do the same. I
shall have to cast you off presently, as the first rain squall will
be down on us, and each boat will have to take care of herself. We
are bound to part company until the morning, but I rely on you and the
second mate to keep head to wind during the squalls, and stick to the
course I have given you between times."

"Very well, sir."

Chard took out the rum and filled a half-pint pannikin to the brim.

"Here you are, boys," said he pleasantly to the two firemen, who looked
gloatingly at the liquor; "this will warm you up for the drenching you
will get presently."

The unsuspecting, unfortunate men drank it off eagerly without troubling
to add water, and then Chard, who feared that Hendry sober would be too
great a coward for the murderous work that was to fo