thout other response. The man had sent for me for some
specific purpose, and I desired to learn what that might be before
unmasking my own batteries.

"A smoke generally leaves me in more genial humor," he continued,
ignoring my reticence. "Mere habit, of course, but we are all more or
less in slavery to the weed. I trust you have been fairly comfortable
since coming on board the _Sea Gull_."

"As much so as a prisoner could naturally expect to be," I replied
indifferently. "This vessel then is the _Sea Gull_?"

He bowed, with an expressive gesticulation of the hand.

"At present--yes. In days gone by it has been found convenient to call
her the _Esmeralda_, the _Seven Sisters_, and the _Becky N_. The name
is immaterial, so long as it sounds well, and conforms to the manifest.
However, just now the register reads _Sea Gull_, Henley, master, 850
tons, schooner-rigged yacht."

"You are under steam?"

"Exactly; auxiliary steam power."

"In what trade?"

"Operated for pleasure exclusively," a slight tone of mockery in the
soft voice. "A rather expensive luxury, of course, but available all
the year around in this latitude."

"I failed to catch the captain's name--yours, I presume?"

He laughed, pausing to light another cigarette.

"Still it is one you seem fairly familiar with--Henley, Philip Henley."

CHAPTER XXII

I CHANGE FRONT

This statement of his identity, spoken calmly, and smilingly, was such
a surprise that I could but stare at the man, half convinced I had
misunderstood his words.

"You see, Craig," he continued quietly, apparently comprehending my
state of mind, "your little game is up. Not a bad plan
originally--something of a criminal genius that fellow Neale--but he
failed to count on the fact that I was very much alive, and fully
capable of attending to my own affairs. By the way, what part did the
girl play in this little conspiracy? Merely a friend of yours, who
came along for company?"

"Certainly not," I replied indignantly. "Have you seen her?"

"Not yet; I preferred coming to an understanding with you first."

"A condition you may not find as easy as you anticipate," I retorted,
angered at his cool insolence. "If you are Philip Henley, then the
lady you are holding prisoner is your wife."

He laughed, leaning back again in his chair.

"Well, hardly. I rather surmised that was the idea from a sentence or
two, in these instructions," and he touched a bundle of