be in opposite camps, Mr. Sedgwick? Come! Let's arrange
a compromise. Neither of us alone has enough to go on. You need me and
my scrap of map. I need you and your bit of chart. We'll consolidate
forces and go to Panama together."

"Afraid you're a little late, captain. You play your hand and we'll play
ours."

I had been increasing the distance between us. Now I turned sharply on
my heel and walked away almost at a run, for I did not like the idea of
taking with me a bullet in the small of my back.

At the end of the wharf a figure brushed past me. Night had begun to
fall, and in the gray dusk I could not make sure, but again I was oddly
struck by its resemblance to our engineer, Fleming. I slued around my
head to look a second time, but the fog had already swallowed him.
Strange, I thought, that he had not recognized me; but perhaps, if the
man was Fleming, he had found me too indistinct to know.

At any rate it was a matter of no great importance. I pushed past the
warehouse to take an up-town car.

CHAPTER VIII

ABOARD THE ARGOS

Blythe and I had agreed that an attempt would be made to relieve us of
the map while we were carrying it from the safety-deposit vault to the
ship. So far as we could see it was Bothwell's last chance to gain
possession of the coveted chart, and he was not the man to leave a stone
unturned.

At half past three we drove in the car of a friend to the International
Safe Deposit Company's place of business. He waited outside while we
went in to reclaim the document.

Five minutes later we reappeared, the paper in the inside pocket of my
tightly buttoned coat. My eyes explored to right and left.

The thunder of trolley cars, the rumble of wholesale wagons, the buzz of
automobiles, all made their contribution to the roar of the busy canon
up and down which men and women passed by hundreds. That Bothwell would
make an attempt at a hold-up here seemed inconceivable. But if not here,
then--where? He had to have the map or give up the fight.

Blythe followed me into the tonneau and our car swept out into the
stream of traffic. Less than a quarter of an hour later we stepped down
from the machine, shook hands with our friend, and took the boat which
was waiting for us at the wharf. Even now we were alert, ready for any
emergency that might occur.

Nothing happened, except our safe arrival at the _Argos_. Miss Wallace
and her aunt were on deck to welcome us. Sam and I exchanged r