since.

Across the water came a call for help. "I'm sinking--hurry!"

The other man in the river was a dozen yards from the one in distress.
With strong, swift, overhand strokes he shot through the water.

"All right," he called presently. "I've got him."

The oarsmen drew alongside the swimmer. With one hand Macdonald caught
hold of the edge of the boat. The other clutched the rescued man by the
hair of his head.

"Look out. You're drowning him," the mate warned.

"Am I?" Macdonald glanced with mild interest at the head that had been
until that moment submerged. "Shows how absent-minded a man gets. I was
thinking about how he tried to drown me, I expect."

They dragged the miner aboard.

"Go ahead. I'll swim down," Macdonald ordered.

"Better come aboard," advised the mate.

"No. I'm all right."

The Scotchman pushed himself back from the boat and fell into an easy
stroke. Nevertheless, there was power in it, for he reached the Hannah
before the rescued miner had been helped to the deck.

A dozen passengers, crowded on the lower deck, pushed forward eagerly
to see. Among them was Selfridge, his shirt and collar torn loose at
the neck and his immaculate checked suit dusty and disheveled. He was
wearing a pair of up-to-date Oxford tans.

The Scotch-Canadian shook himself like a Newfoundland dog. He looked
around with sardonic amusement, a grin on his swollen and disfigured
face.

"Quite a pleasant welcome home," he said ironically, his cold eyes fixed
on a face that looked as if it might have been kicked by a healthy mule.
"Eh, Trelawney?"

The Cornishman glared at him, and turned away with a low, savage oath.

"Are you hurt, Mr. Macdonald?" asked the captain.

"Hurt! Not at all, Captain. I cut myself while I was shaving this
morning--just a scratch," was the ironic answer.

"There's been some dirty work going on. I'll see the men are punished,
sir."

"Forget it, Captain. I'll attend to that little matter." His jaunty,
almost insolent glance made the half-circle again. "Sorry you were too
late for the party, gentlemen,--most of you. I see three or four of you
who were 'among those present.' It was a strictly exclusive affair. And
now, if you don't mind, I'll say good-night."

He turned on his heel, went up the stairway to the deck above, and
disappeared into his stateroom.

The rescued miner, propped against the cabin wall where he had been
placed, broke into sudden excited protest. "Ach! He tr