ds a small fore-and-aft schooner lying
half a mile away in the Matafele horn of the reef encircling Apia
Harbour.

The four native seamen bent to their oars in silence, and sped swiftly
through the darkness over the calm waters of the harbour. The schooner
showed no riding light on her forestay, but, on the after deck under the
awning, a lamp was burning, and three men--the captain, mate, and
boatswain--were playing cards on the skylight.

Otway jumped on deck, just as the men rose to meet him.

"Great Ascensial Jehosophat! Why, it's you, Mr. Otway?" cried the
captain, a little clean-shaven man, as he shook hands with the
supercargo. "Well, now, I was just wondering whether I'd go ashore and
try and drop across you. Say, tell me now, hev you any good tinned beef
and a case of Winchesters you can sell me?"

"Yes, both," replied Otway, shaking hands with the three in turn--they
were all old acquaintances, especially Le Brun, the mate. "But come
below with me, Revels; I've important business, and it has to be done
right away--this very night."

Revels led the way below into the schooner's cabin, and at once produced
a bottle of Bourbon and a couple of glasses.

"No time to drink, Revels.... All right, just a little, then. Now, tell
me, do you want to make--and make it easy--five hundred pounds?"

"Guess I do."

"Are you ready for sea?"

"I was thinking of sailing on a cruise among the Tokelau Islands in a
day or two."

"Then don't think of it. If you put to sea to-night for a longer voyage,
I can guarantee you that you will get five hundred pounds--if you will
take two passengers on board, and put to sea as soon as they come
alongside."

"Where do they want to go?"

"That I can't say. Manila or Hongkong, most likely. It'll pay you."

"Is the money safe?"

Otway struck his hand on the table. "Safe as rain, Revels. They have
plenty. I have it here alongside, and if you don't get five hundred
sovereigns paid you when you have dropped Samoa astern, you can come
back with your passengers, and I'll give you fifty pounds myself."

"Friends of yours?"

"Yes."

"That's enough fur me, Otway. Now, just tell me what to do."

"Tell your mate to get your boat ready to go ashore, while I write a
note."

He took a sheet of paper, and hurriedly wrote in pencil:

"DEAR LACY,--Don't hesitate to follow my instructions. There's a man
here from New Zealand. Tried to get access to your cabin; bluffed
him.