bull by the horns.

"That Miss Coburn would take part in anything shady I don't for a moment
believe," he declared, "but I'm afraid I wouldn't be so sure of her
father."

Merriman shook his head and groaned.

"I know you're right," he admitted to the other's amazement. "I saw--I
didn't mean to tell you, but now I may as well. That first evening,
when we went up to call, you probably don't remember, but after he had
learned who we were he turned round to pull up a chair. He looked at
you; I saw his face in a mirror. Hilliard, it was the face of a--I
was going to say, a devil--with hate and fear. But the look passed
instantly. When he turned round he was smiling. It was so quick I half
thought I was mistaken. But I know I wasn't."

"I saw fear on his face when he recognized you that same evening,"
Hilliard replied. "We needn't blink at it, Merriman. Whether willingly
or unwillingly, Mr. Coburn's in the thing. That's as certain as that
we're here."

"But what is it? Have you any theory?"

"No, not really. There was that one of brandy smuggling that I mentioned
before. I suggest it because I can suggest nothing else, but I admit I
saw no evidence of it."

Merriman was silent for several minutes as the boat slid over the smooth
water. Then with a change of manner he turned once more to his friend.

"I suppose we couldn't leave it alone? Is it our business after all?"

"If we don't act we become accessories, and besides we leave that girl
to fight her own battles."

Merriman clenched his fists and once more silence reigned. Presently he
spoke again:

"You had something in your mind?"

"I think we must do one of two things. Either continue our
investigations until we learn what is going on, or else clear out and
tell the police what we have learned."

Merriman made a gesture of dissent.

"Not that, not that," he cried. "Anything rather than the police."

Hilliard gazed vacantly on the long line of the coast.

"Look here, old man," he said, "Wouldn't it be better if we discussed
this thing quite directly? Don't think I mean to be impertinent--God
knows I don't--but am I not right in thinking you want to save Miss
Coburn all annoyance, and her father also, for her sake?"

"We needn't talk about it again," Merriman said in a hard voice, looking
intently at the stem of the mast, "but if it's necessary to make things
clear, I want to marry her if she'll have me."

"I thought so, old man, and I can only say--