merry
Hades to him for that. Lord, doctor!" he added with a sneer, "to think
of you sucking up to a potty prince! or perhaps it's the ladies."

"Yes; I hope you remember the ladies," said I. "It's not too late,
Holgate."

He was silent a moment. "I take no stock in women," he said at length.
"They're nothing to me. Let the little innocent birds go free. I'll
tell you what, doctor. I'll offer terms, and generous terms,
considering I've got the trumps. I'll drop the whole pack of you at the
mouth of the river, ladies and all, and add all personal possessions of
every one save what's in the Prince's safes. Now that's fair. I'll make
you ambassador. By gad, it will be the only chance you will ever have
of being a prince's ambassador." He laughed.

"Holgate," said I, "I've met many generous men, but you appropriate the
gingerbread, as you might say. Now I wish you good-night."

He advanced two steps towards me. "Doctor," said he gravely, "you've
got to consider this. It's important. I'm not here to play marbles.
It's a sure thing. I give you up there"--he made a movement of his
thumb to the quarterdeck--"just this chance. Strike a bargain and I'll
see you through. There's not a hap'orth of harm will come to any.
Otherwise----" He shrugged his shoulders.

"Mr. Holgate," said I, "I will deal with you as frankly as you seem to
desire. This spells for you, in my opinion one thing, and that's the
dock."

"Oh, dear, no," he interrupted, smiling. "The men were discontented,
despatched a deputation, and were fired on by the Prince. English
juries don't like these arbitrary German military ways."

"You forget McCrae," said I.

"No, I don't. There was an accident in the engine-room, and the second
engineer can bear witness to it, as well as some others. Oh, we stand
very well, doctor."

Even as he spoke I saw a shadow steal out of the deeper darkness and
draw to his side. I made it out for Pierce, the murderer. I will say
that that interruption of the ruffianly boatswain turned unexpectedly
the course of my blood. I had seemed somehow to have been dealing with
Holgate, as a scoundrel, certainly, yet upon terms of fair warfare. But
that shadow struck us all down to a lower level. Murder had been
committed, and here was the murderer. Without one word I turned and
made my way towards the ladder communicating with the upper deck.

I had no good news to offer to my comrades; indeed, had I spoken quite
what was in my thoughts,