aling with you squarely when I say I'd rather not.
For why? Because I don't want any further mess. We've slopped about
enough for the present, and I should say you gentlemen know it."

He paused again, as if to give us an opportunity of revising our
decision, and once more the Prince and Sir John interchanged whispers.
Barraclough shook his head vigorously, and a frown gathered on his
features. In the fine light of the skylights Princess Alix's silhouette
stood out, and the soft hair on her forehead was ruffled by the breeze.
She was still gazing at Holgate. His bull-neck turned and he faced
towards her, and their glances met. Neither gave way nor winced before
the salvos of the other, and I had the odd thought that some strange
duel was in progress, in which the antagonists were that fair woman and
that villainous, gross man. Holgate's eyes shifted only when
Barraclough spoke next.

"If you leave the yacht at the next port or place of call we shall be
powerless to prevent you and the men under you," said Barraclough in a
dry, formal voice. "But the mutiny will be, of course, reported to the
British Consul at the most accessible port."

"That's a compromise, I reckon," observed Holgate with a grin, which
showed his fang. "That's owner and first officer commanding rolled into
one and halved, or I'm Dutch. Well, I'll let it go; but I've offered
fair terms. And I'll tell you frankly that I wouldn't even have offered
those had it not been for the doctor." He shook his head, wagging it at
me. "Oh, doctor, doctor, to think what I lost in you! Why, we could
have taken our time over the strong-room, barring your little
intervention. You're a real daisy, and I won't forget it. But now it's
in the hands of Providence. It's war. Sir John, I congratulate the
double-barrelled leaders. There's two captains here, and that's one too
many. I only allow one in my quarters. All right, gentlemen." He took
up his flag and waddled towards the door. "Good-morning. I've done what
I could. Don't blame me."

On the threshold he paused, and his glance marched deliberately over us
all, landing at last upon the Princess. "May the Lord help you," says
he in his voice of suet. "May the Lord be merciful to you--all!"

The door went behind him with a snap. I turned almost unconsciously in
that direction in which the last shafts of his eyes had flown. The
accent on the "all" had been perceptible. Princess Alix had lifted her
chin from her hand and