er what infernal roguery they are up
to?"

Charlie Blount's amazement was perfectly natural, The German and
American did dislike each other most intensely. Neither of them had
lived so long on Mayou as Blount, but each was trying hard to work the
other man off the island by accusing him to the natives of cheating
them. As a matter of fact they were both scoundrels, but Banderah, the
chief of Mayou, who was fond of white men, managed to keep a hollow
peace between them. _He_ was perfectly well aware that both of them
cheated himself and his people, but as long as their cheating was
practised moderately he did not mind. In Blount, however, he had the
fullest confidence, and this good feeling was shared with him by every
native on the island.

* * * * *

Perhaps, had Blount been a witness of what occurred when the boat
landed, his suspicion of his fellow-traders' honesty would have been
considerably augmented. For while the missionary and Mr. de Vere were
bandying compliments, the German and American were exchanging signs with
the officer who was in charge of the boat, and whom De Vere addressed
as "Captain Sykes." The American, indeed, had started down the beach to
speak to him, when Mr. de Vere called out to him to return to the ship,
and Captain Sykes, with a gesture signifying that he would see Burrowes
later on, swung round the boat's head and gave the word to his Kanaka
crew to give way. As if quite satisfied with this dumb promise, the
American returned to the group he had just left, and then the moment
the missionary, Mrs. Deighton, and De Vere had gone, he and the German
started off together.

The moment they entered the American's house, Burrowes sat down on the
table and the German on a gin case.

"Wal, Dutchy," said Burrowes, looking keenly at his companion, "I reckon
you know who the almighty swell in the brass-bound suit is, hey?"

"Yaw," replied Schwartzkoff, "it is Bilker, und I thought he was in
brison for ten years mit."

"Wal, that's true enough that he did get ten years. But that's six years
ago, an' I reckon they've let him out. Public feelin' in Australia agin
nigger catchin' ain't very strong; an' I reckon he's got out after doin'
five or six years."

"Dot is so," asserted the German; and then he leaned forward, "but vat
vas he doing here in dis fine, swell schooner mit?"

"That's jest what you and me is goin' to find out, Dutchy. An' I guess
that you an' me _can_ find out darned easy. Bi