ulled up by a surf-boat full of other
negroes, came off and gave her pratique.

The rectangular white building, standing in the sea breeze by itself
away from the town beyond, was the cable station, but for the present
they faced it with their backs. Kettle had seen it before; the other two
acted as though it were the last thing to trouble their minds. There was
no going ashore for any of them yet; indeed, the less they advertised
their personal identity, the more chance there was of getting off
untraced afterward.

Night fell with such suddenness that one could almost have imagined the
sun was permanently extinguished. Round the rim of the bay lights began
to kindle, and presently (when the wind came off the land) strains of
music floated out to them.

"Some saint's day," Sheriff commented.

"St. Agatha's," said Kettle with a sigh.

"Hello, Kettle. I thought you were a straight-laced chapel goer. What
have you to do with saints and their days?"

"I was told that one once, sir, and I can't help remembering it. You see
the date is February 5th, and that's my eldest youngster's birthday."

Sheriff swore. "I wish you'd drop that sort of sentimental bosh,
Skipper; especially now. I want to get this business over first, and
then, when I go back with plenty in my pocket, I can begin to think of
family pleasures and cares again. Come now, have you thought out what we
can do with the steamer after we've finished our job here?"

"Run up with the coast and sink her, and then go ashore in the surf-boat
at some place where the cable doesn't call, and leave that as soon as
possible for somewhere else."

"It will be a big saving of necks," said Kettle drily. "Why sir, you've
been a steamer-owner in your time, and you must know how we're fixed.
You've given up your papers here, and you're known. You can't go into
another port in the whole wide world without papers, and as far as
forging a new set, why that's a thing that hasn't been done this thirty
years outside a story-book."

Mr. White came up to hear. "I don't see that," he said.

"You fellows don't understand everything in Jerusalem," said Kettle,
with a cheerful insult, and walked away. Captain Kettle regarded
Sheriff as a gull, and pitied him accordingly; but White he recognized
as principal knave, and disliked him accordingly.

But when the start was made for the raid, some hour and a half before
the dawn, Kettle was not backward in fulfilling his paid-for task.