for me to do what I did."

"Surely, my dear Browne," interposed Maas, speaking for the first time,
"you are not going to believe this cock-and-bull story, which is quite
without corroboration. Your own common-sense should show you how
absurd it is. What can have induced this man to trump up this charge
against me I cannot say. Our friendship, however, should be proof
against it. Knowing the amount of worry you have upon your shoulders
at the present time, I have no desire to add to it; at the same time, I
cannot permit your servant here to insult me before your face."

Browne took no notice of what he said. Turning to the engineer, he
continued:--

"How much did Mr. Maas offer you, or what inducement did he bring to
bear, to get you to do what you did?"

"He offered me five hundred pounds, sir," the other returned. "I told
him, however, that I wouldn't take his money. You have been very good
to me, sir, and I did not want to be paid for doing, what I thought was
a kindness to you. It wasn't until Mr. M'Cartney told me about that
cruiser having put in an appearance, that I saw what I had been led
into doing. Then I went straight to him and made a clean breast of
everything."

"It was the best course you could have pursued," said Browne, "and I
shall remember it, when I come to deal with your case later on. In the
meantime, gentlemen, what are we to do?"

As he spoke the second officer descended from the bridge and made his
appearance at the cabin door.

"The cruiser, sir, has signalled that she intends sending a boat," he
reported, touching his cap.

"Very good," answered Browne; and when the officer had taken his
departure he turned to Maas.

"So it is as we suspected," he began, very slowly and deliberately.
"While we have been trusting you with our secret, you have been playing
the traitor all round. Maas, I can scarcely believe it. I did not
think a man could fall so low. However, there is no time to talk of
that now. Come, gentlemen, what are we to do?"

Ever since the second officer had announced that the man-o'-war was
about to send a boat, Maas had undergone a complete change. Though he
had been found out, he still felt himself to be master of the
situation; and with every minute's grace his pluck returned to him.
Springing to his feet, he cried:--

"You ask what you should do, do you? Then I will tell you. You can do
nothing at all. You are in my power, one and all. Remember tha