erica."

Then he gave us each a cigar and told us to be seated while he got us a
glass of New England rum.

*****

Hickson, with a contemptuous smile, sat with folded arms on a short,
heavy stool. One of the girls, unshipping one of the two lights from the
hook on which it hung, followed W------into a state-room to get the
rum. Presently we heard them coming out, W------ carrying a
wickerwork-covered five-gallon jar; but two girls came out instead of
one. The stranger kept close to W------, one hand holding the sleeve of
his shirt.

Stooping as he set the jar on the floor, I had a good view of the
new-comer, and a deadly fear seized me. I knew at once that she was
Hickson's sister! He was coarse and rough-looking, but yet a handsome
man, and this girl's likeness to him was very striking. Just then
Hickson, not even noticing her, rose and said he was going on deck to
see if the boat was ready, when the strange quavering tones of W------
arrested him.

"Be seated, sir, for another minute. Nijilon, get some glasses. You see
here, gentlemen, the fairest and choicest or all my devil-vestals, one
that------"

Hickson looked at her, and with a terrified wail the girl clutched
W------'s arm, and placed her face against his breast. With lips drawn
back from his white teeth the half-caste sprang up, and his two clenched
hands pawed the air. Then from his throat there came a sound like a
laugh strangled into a groan.

Scarce knowing what I did I got in front of him, He dashed me aside as
if I were a child, and seized the stool. And as he swung it round above
his head the girl raised a face like the hue of death to his; then the
blow fell, and she and W------ went down together.

******

Hickson rushed on deck and tried to spring overboard. I think he must
have struck the main boom, for one of our crew who was on deck heard
him fall. We got a light, and found him lying senseless. Two of the
"vestals" held him up while I went below for some rum and water. W------
was lying where he had fallen, breathing heavily, but not seriously
injured as far as I could see. But one look at the closed eyes of the
girl told me she was past all help. The heavy stool had struck her on
the temple.

Placing Hickson in the boat with two men to mind mm, I took the other
two with me into the cabin of the brig. W------ was seated on the floor,
held up by two of his harem, and muttering unintelligibly to himself.
The other two were bending ov