than any yet previously obtained.

Knowing that his men were as true as steel to him, the officer showed
them to each man in turn, and then handed them to Velo.

"These seven pearls are worth much money," he said, speaking in the
native tongue to the men, "and shall not be handled by the man who slew
the white woman's husband, for they are hers, and Velo shall himself
give them to her. But cast the shells overboard."

As the days went by, and the waters of the broad lagoon shone and
sparkled under a cloudless vault of blue, the work went steadily on,
and in the hold of the brig, tier upon tier of cases, packed tightly
with shell, were firmly stowed for the voyage to Singapore--shell worth
over eight thousand pounds, and night after night Rawlings would turn
out the pearls upon the scarlet cloth, and discuss their value with
Barry and the other two officers.

"Six thousand pounds, you say, Mr. Barry," said the captain, rolling
the gleaming, iridescent things softly to and fro with his small,
shapely brown hand, whilst the Greek drew deep sighs of pleasure as he
watched.

"At least that, sir," answered Barry, puffing at his pipe; "I have
given you the lowest estimate of their value. If they bring nine
thousand I shall not be surprised. As for the little box of seed
pearls, they don't amount to much; the whole lot will not sell for more
than two hundred and fifty pounds."

"Poor Tracey!" said Rawlings thoughtfully; "I must endeavour to find
out by advertising in the London and colonial newspapers if he has any
relatives. I should like to acquaint them with his death, and send
them all of what would have been the poor fellow's share had he lived."

Barry's face never moved, but his right band clenched tightly under his
jumper; for Mrs. Tracey had told him that her husband had told Rawlings
all about his family, and about a quiet little village called East Dene
on the coast of Sussex, where he had been born.

"It is very generous of you," said Barry stolidly; "and if you can't
find out anything about his people, you may about those of his wife."

"I shall do my very best in both cases," replied Rawlings. "It will
give me infinite pleasure to discover either his or his wife's
relatives."

"Did he leave no letters or papers of any kind which would give you a
clue?" asked Barry carelessly.

"Absolutely nothing. And, although we were on the most intimate of
terms, he never spoke of his family--neither did his