it himself to blink the fact that mystery had
already crept into the cruise, and that mystery of a deadly sort. It was
only in so far as it concerned him in person that he belittled it.
Vandersee appearing at the companionway, however, reminded him of
Rolfe's partly expressed opinion. He joined the second mate, peered into
his face, and tried to detect some sign that might give him an opening.
The Dutchman's face was bland as ever; his eyes sparkled with humor as
he made some trifling remark about Little's improved condition.

Barry had put the murderous knife into his pocket. He took Vandersee's
arm now, turning him until he faced the mainsail.

"See that slit, Mr. Vandersee?" he said casually, yet watching the man's
face closely. "Might have a man patch that in the morning. Don't think
it's necessary to unbend the sail, is it?"

"No sir. Lower away to the first reef. That'll do. How did it happen,
sir? That's a stout piece of canvas."

"Stout's right, Mr. Vandersee," drawled Barry. "A bird flew through it.
Pretty stout bird, hey?"

"Bird? Surely you're joking, sir," laughed the second mate, his round
face glowing with a jolly grin. "But I'll see that it's attended to."

Barry went below, looked in on Little, who slept like an infant now,
then sat in his own stateroom smoking and feasting his eyes on the
precious photograph in his chronometer case until he heard a seaman
knock at the chief mate's door to call him at midnight. When the seaman
had gone on deck, the skipper stepped over to Rolfe's berth.

"Mr. Rolfe," he said, "did you hold any communication with the shore
before Mr. Little and I came on board?"

"Ye-ow-ow!" yawned the mate, rubbing his eyes vigorously. "Beg pardon,
sir. Communication with the shore? Why, yes--just before we dropped
anchor in Surabaya a boat came off with fresh provisions that Mr. Houten
had ordered by telegraph. That's all, sir."

"Didn't ship anybody, hey?" pursued Barry.

"Ship? Why, no, sir, unless some rat stowed away," returned the puzzled
mate, struggling into his jacket. "Why?"

"Never mind," returned the skipper shortly and retired to his own berth.

He undressed now, putting aside all further consideration of his mystery
until he could attack it in daylight. But on second thoughts he looked
closely to his pistol and placed it beneath his pillow. Then he shot the
bolt of his door and was satisfied that all proper precautions had been
taken.

"Just a little peep a