h the
tip of his tongue and tried again. "Truth is, sir, Hi wanted to ask Miss
Wallace what she would like for dinner."

"That's very considerate of you. And I'm sure it's the truth. You were
merely resting on the way. Come on up, Higgins. That is, if you're now
able to finish the journey. Or shall I help you?"

The tail of his eye had swung round to take in the lower deck. I could
have sworn the man was considering making a bolt for it, but at my words
he gave up the idea with a fat sigh. He came up slowly, his eyes fixed
on mine as if I held them fascinated. Tiny beads of sweat stood out on
his forehead. 'Arry 'Iggins was not at that moment comfortable in his
mind.

"Hi strive to please, sir," he explained. "Whatever the young lady would
like. Hin a manner of speakin' I'm 'er 'umble servant, very respectably,
'Arry Iggins."

He ducked his head toward her and again toward Blythe.

"Come here," the captain ordered.

Higgins shuffled reluctantly forward.

"When did you first meet this man Bothwell?"

"Beg pardon, sir. Don't think I know the gent, sir."

The Englishman's eyes pierced into his fellow-countryman like a drill.

"Don't lie to me."

The cook had recourse to a large bandanna handkerchief to mop away his
perspiration.

"If you mean the stowaway, sir, Hi met 'im just before we reached Los
Angeles."

"How many of the crew are with him in this mutiny?"

"Mutiny, sir?"

"I don't mince words. How many?"

"There you 'ave me, sir. S'elp me, Captain Blythe, Hi'm not in 'is
confidence."

The man's painful assumption of innocence would have been pathetic had
it not been ridiculous.

"I know that," retorted my friend contemptuously. "He'll
use you and chuck you aside, dead or alive, whichever is
most convenient. Bothwell would as soon knife his fat
friend as wink. But that's not the point just now.
You'll--tell--me--all--you--know--about--this--affair--at--once.
Understand?"

Higgins wriggled like a trout on the hook, but he had to tell what he
knew. In point of fact this was not much more than we had already
learned.

"You will go back to Bothwell and tell him to start the band playing
just as soon as he has his program arranged. Tell him we don't care a
jackstraw for his mutiny, and that if he lives through it we'll take him
in irons to Panama and have him hanged as high as Haman. Get that, my
man?" demanded Blythe.

"Yes, sir. 'Anged as 'igh as 'Aman. Hi'll remember, sir."

Sam turned to