ll Bradish, whoever he is, knows what kind of a game
they played on me. I want to get it out of him. If he knows who I am he
won't loosen! I was a fool to break in as I did. He was coming across to
you."

"Seemed to be pretty gossipy," admitted the captain. "Is trying to be my
special chum so as to work me!"

"Don't you suppose you can get some more out of him?"

"Might be done."

"I feel that it's sailors against the shore pirates this time, sir.
Won't you call that man out here and ask him some questions and allow me
to listen?"

"Under the circumstances I'll do it. Sailors first is my motto. You step
into the mate's stateroom, there, and put ear to the crack o' the door."

But when Bradish appeared, answering the captain's summons, all his
chattiness had left him. He declared that he knew nothing about the
trouble in the _Montana_ case.

"But you said something about a scheme to fool a green captain?"

"It was only gossip--I probably got it wrong. I have thought it over and
really can't remember where I heard it or much about it. Might have been
just newspaper faking."

He kept peering about the dimly lighted room.

"You needn't worry, young man. That nigger isn't here."

"But he said he was a white man. And how does he come to be interested?"

"It's a nigger gone crazy about that case--he has probably been reading
fake stories in the papers, too," stated Captain Downs, grimly. "I must
remind you again, Bradish, that you were talking to me in pretty lively
style."

"Oh, a man lets out a lot of guesswork when he is nervous about his own
business."

"Well, I might fix it so that you'd be a little less nervous, providing
you'll show a more willing disposition when I ask you a few questions,"
probed the skipper. But this insistence alarmed Bradish and his blinking
eyes revealed his fears and suspicions.

"I don't know anything about the _Montana_ case. I don't intend to do
any talking about it."

Captain Downs tapped harder on the table, scowled, and was silent.

"Anything else, sir?" inquired Bradish, after a pause.

"Guess not, if that's the way you feel about it!" snapped Captain Downs.

Bradish went back into the main saloon, and the eavesdropper ventured
forth.

"I don't know just what the dickens to do about you, now that I know who
you are," confessed the master, looking Mayo up and down.

"There isn't anything to do except let me go back to my work, sir."

"I'm in a devil of a position