."

Cleigh, sighing contentedly, dipped his fingers into the finger bowl and
brushed his lips.

The son drank a cup of coffee hastily, lit his pipe, and went on deck. He
proceeded directly to the chart house.

"Cunningham, I'll swallow my pride and ask a favour of you."

"Ah!"--in a neutral tone.

"The cook tells me that all the wine and liquor are in the dry-stores
compartment. Will you open it and let me chuck the stuff overboard?"

"No," said Cunningham, promptly. "When I turn this yacht back to your
father not a single guy rope will be out of order. It would be a fine
piece of work to throw all those rare vintages over the rail simply to
appease an unsubstantial fear on your part! No!"

"But if the men should break in? And it would be easy, because it is
nearer them than us."

"Thank your father for building the deck like a city flat. But if the boys
should break in, there's the answer," said Cunningham, laying his
regulation revolver on the chart table. "And every mother's son of them
knows it."

"You refuse?"

"Yes."

"All right. But if anything happens I'll be on top of you, and all the
bullets in that clip won't stop me."

"Captain, you bore me. Your father and the girl are good sports. You ought
to be one. I've given you the freedom of the yacht for the girl's sake
when caution bids me dump you into the brig. I begin to suspect that your
misfortunes are due to a violent temper. Run along with your thunder; I
don't want you hurt."

"If I come through this alive----"

"You'll join your dad peeling off my hide--if you can catch me!"

It was with the greatest effort that Dennison crushed down the desire to
leap upon his tormentor. He stood tense for a moment, then stepped out
upon the bridge. His fury was suffocating him, and he realized that he was
utterly helpless.

Ten minutes later the crew in their quarters were astonished to see the
old man's son enter. None of them stirred.

"I say, any you chaps got an extra suit of twill? This uniform is getting
too thick for this latitude. I'm fair melting down to the bone."

"Sure!" bellowed a young giant, swinging out of his bunk. He rummaged
round for a space and brought forth a light-weight khaki shirt and a pair
of ducks. "Guess these'll fit you, sir."

"Thanks. Navy stores?"

"Yes, sir. You're welcome."

Dennison's glance travelled from face to face, and he had to admit that
there was none of the criminal type here. They might carry throu