left him.

Then S------ went up to the Cafe Palais and played billiards with a
steady hand.

*****

There was a great number of people on board to see Captain S------ away.
Presently a boat came alongside, and a young lady with sweet red lips
and shiny hair ascended to the deck.

"Helas!" said a French officer to S------, "and so you are taking away
the fair one who won't look at us poor exiles of Nouvelle."

With a timid smile and fast-beating heart the woman gained the
quarter-deck. In front of her stood the broad-shouldered, well-groomed
Captain S------, cold, impassive, and deadly pale, with a cruel joy in
his breast.

The woman stood still. There was something so appalling in that set
white face before her, that her slight frame quivered with an unknown
dread. And then the captain spoke, in slow, measured words that cut her
to her inmost soul.

"Madam, I do not take passengers!"

No answer. Only short, gasping breaths as she steadied her hand on the
rail.

And then, turning to one of the Frenchmen: "M. ------, will you request
this--this lady to go on shore? She is known to me as a woman of
infamous reputation in Fiji. I cannot for a moment entertain the idea of
having such a person on board my ship."

Before the shuddering creature fell a man caught her, and then she was
placed in the boat and taken ashore. Of course some of the Frenchmen
thought it right to demand an explanation from S------, who said--

"I've none to give, gentlemen. If any of you want to fight me, well and
good, although I don't like quarrelling over a pavement-woman. Besides,
I rather think you'll find that the lady will _now_ be quite an
acquisition to you."

But S------'s revenge was not complete. He had previously arranged
matters with his engineer, who presently came along and announced an
accident to the machinery--the steamer would be delayed a couple of
days. He wanted to see her again--so he told Chester.

"It was a cruel thing," said his friend.

"Bah!" said S------, "come with me."

In the crowded bar of the cafe a woman was laughing and talking gaily.
Something made her look up. She put her hand to her eyes and walked
slowly from the room.

As the two Englishmen walked slowly down to the wharf the handsome
Captain S------ whistled cheerily, and asked Chester on board to hear
him and his steward play violin and piccolo. "By God, S------," said
Chester, "you have no heart!"

"Right you are, my lad. She made it