ecting for a
moment while Kosmaroff ate the ship's biscuit offered to him in the lid
of a box, and Cartoner stared thoughtfully at the flickering lamp.

"I'll take him out to sea and bury him there," said Cable, at length,
"if so be as that's agreeable to you. There's many a good man buried at
sea, and when my time comes I'll ask for no better berth."

"That is the only thing to be done," said Cartoner.

Kosmaroff glanced towards the bed.

"Yes," he said, "that will do. He will lay quiet enough there."

And all three, perhaps, thought of all that they were to bury beneath
the sea with this last of the Bukatys.

Captain Cable was the first to move. He turned and glanced at the clock.

"I'll turn the hands out," he said, "and we'll get to sea on the ebb.
But I'll have to send ashore for a pilot."

"No," answered Kosmaroff, rising and finishing his wine, "you need not
do that. I can take you out to sea."

The captain nodded curtly and went on deck, leaving Kosmaroff and
Cartoner alone in the cabin in the silent presence of the man who had
been the friend of both.

"Will you answer me a question?" asked Kosmaroff, suddenly.

"If I can," was the reply, economical of words.

"Where were you on the 13th of March?"

Cartoner reflected for a moment, and then replied:

"In St. Petersburg."

"Then I do not understand you," said Kosmaroff. "I don't understand how
we failed. For you know we have failed, I suppose?"

"I know nothing," answered Cartoner. "But I conclude you have failed,
since you are here--and he is there."

And he pointed towards Martin.

"Thanks to you."

"No, I had nothing to do with it," said Cartoner.

"You cannot expect me to believe that."

"I do not care," replied the English diplomat, gently, "whether you
believe it or not."

Kosmaroff moved towards the door. He carefully avoided passing near
Cartoner, as if too close a proximity might make him forget himself.

"I will tell you one thing," he said, in a hard, low voice. "It will not
do for you to show your face in Poland. Don't ever forget that I will
take any chance I get to kill you! There is not room for you and me in
Poland!"

"If I am sent there I shall go," replied Cartoner. And there crept to
one side of Kosmaroff's face that slow smile which seemed to give him
pain.

"I believe you will."

Then he went to the door. For Captain Cable could be heard on deck
giving his orders, and already the winches were at work. But th