etort was least expected.

"You must modify your instructions, Captain Coke," said Iris with quiet
scorn. "It would be a shameful act to destroy the house of those who
befriended us. They gave freely of their stores, as you will see by
the supplies lashed to the catamaran, and will assist us further if
Senhor De Sylva appeals to them----"

"You can safely leave that to me," broke in Dom Corria.

But Iris was not to be placated thus easily.

"I know that," she said. "I only wished Captain Coke to understand
that if he cannot make clear his meaning he should obey rather than
command."

"The lady 'as 'ad the last word. Now let's get busy," sneered Coke.

Hozier, who had not quitted his side since the incipient outbreak was
quelled, gripped his shoulder.

"There is a pile of wood near the cottage," he said in Coke's ear. "I
saw it there. It must be paid for. Have you any money?"

"A loose quid or two--no more."

"A sovereign will be ample. Miss Yorke has already given the owners
two pounds."

"Wot for?"

"For their kindness. You are all there when it comes to a scrap,
skipper, but at most other times you ought to be muzzled. No, don't
talk now. We will discuss the point on some more suitable occasion,
when we can deal with it fully, and Miss Yorke is not present."

Philip spoke in a whisper, but the low pitch of his voice did not
conceal its menace. He was longing to twine his fingers round Coke's
thick neck, and some hint of his desire was communicated by the clutch
of his hand. Coke shook himself free. He feared no man born, but it
would be folly to attack Hozier then, and he was not a fool.

"Let go, you blank ijjit," he growled. "I've no grudge ag'in you. If
we pull out of this mess you'll 'ave to square matters wi' David Verity
an' that other ole ninny, Dickey Bulmer. She's promised to 'im, you
know. Told me so 'erself, so there's no mistake. I got me rag out, I
admit, an' 'oo wouldn't after bein' 'owled down by those swine forrard.
My godfather! Watch me put it over 'em w'en I get the chanst. Stop
'er, Norrie! There's plenty of way on 'er to round that bend."

Hozier reflected that he had chosen an odd moment to quarrel with his
captain, whose mordant humor in the matter of the mistletoe was only
accentuated by his reference to Iris's reported engagement. The
pungent smell of the mangrove swamp was wafted now to his nostrils. It
brought a species of warning that the disagreeabl