ad
fallen into a state of fever and delirium. For the time being he could do
nothing to assist in proving her identity; indeed, even if he had kept
his senses, he might not have been able to swear that she was Liane
Devereux, so many were the differences of personality. Months might have
to pass before the truth of the strange conjecture could be proved--if it
could ever be proved--while the Countess de Mattos remained entrenched in
her strong position as a much injured and innocent lady.

They could not count upon her, and were forced to rely wholly upon the
plan formed before the beautiful Manuela had entered into their
calculations. On reaching Samoa it was to be, as George Trent expressed
it, a "game of bluff." One hope of saving Max lay in the fact that no
photograph of him could have arrived from New Caledonia; there were a
hundred chances to one that there would be no one at Samoa who had ever
seen him; he could not, therefore, be positively identified, and as the
_Bella Cuba_, owned by an American girl, flew the stars and stripes, it
was not likely that the authorities would care to invite trouble by
attempting to detain a yacht sailing under American colours. It was well
known to the initiated also, that successful "evasions" from the French
penal settlements were hushed up with nervous caution whenever possible
and that the news of even an attempted escape was seldom printed in
French papers. This was another advantage for the guilty _Bella Cuba_. It
might be considered better to let one convict go free, than precipitate
an international complication, a world-wide sensation, especially as
there was no one with a personal interest to serve in recovering this
particular prisoner.

They steamed boldly on toward Samoa. The morning that the island was
sighted, Dr. Grayle had pronounced Max Dalahaide better. The delirium had
passed. He was quiet, though still very weak.

"I suppose he wouldn't be able to confront that wicked woman and accuse
her to her face?" asked Virginia of the little brown man.

Dr. Grayle shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "Our motto must be
forward, but not too fast. He isn't fit yet for any strong excitement,
since we don't want to risk a relapse now that he's getting on so well. I
was rather afraid the sight of all those souvenirs of the past in his
cabin would upset him when he should be in a state of mind to recognize
them, but the effect has apparently been precisely opposite. At firs