u are
certainly the queerest! Still, I think I understand you, and that's
queerer still."

Instead of speaking he sipped his coffee. Then he rose and "tickled the
denunciator." That was his phrase for ringing for a servant.

"Put some more wood on the fire," he commanded when the servant came.

"I've put it all on, a'ready," answered the man.

"Well, bring some more."

"It'll be extry charge, sir."

"Never mind that," said Captain Hallam. "Do as you are told, and when
the thing is over I'll issue a loan, raise some money, and pay the bill.
You know who I am, don't you?"

"No, sir. You see, I've just come to Cairo."

"Very well, then. Go to the office of the hotel and tell the people
there that Captain Will Hallam is ordering more wood than you think he
can pay for. They'll tell you what to do. In the meantime, here's a
quarter for you."

This by-play with the serving man relieved Captain Hallam of a sense of
embarrassment which he felt in approaching the next thing he had in
mind.

"What do you want, Duncan, for last night's work?"

Duncan looked at his companion for half a minute before answering. Then
he said:

"I want that tug captain of yours discharged."

"Why?"

"Because he's a coward and an utterly unfit man. Human life may depend
upon his courage at any moment, and he has no courage."

"Is that _all_ you want?"

"Yes. That's all."

"Why don't you demand an increase in your salary? Anybody else would.
But, perhaps you don't care for a bigger salary? You're a queer sort,
you know."

"Oh, yes; I care very much for an increase," answered Duncan.

"Then why didn't you seize upon the opportunity to ask for it?"

"Must I tell you, frankly?"

"I wish you would. It might help me to understand you."

"Well, it is simple enough. You gave me employment when I was
desperately in need of it. I should be an ingrate if I did not consider
your interests in all that I do. I think I ought to have a larger
salary than you are now paying me. I think I earn it, and it has been
my purpose to ask for it when the proper time should come."

"Then why haven't you been in a hurry to ask for it now? There couldn't
be a better time."

"Pardon me, but I cannot agree with you. It so happens that just at this
moment I have several very important matters of yours in my charge. You
have entrusted them to me, and they have come so exclusively under my
control that nobody else--not even you--could conduct them to a