n him, and upon you as well."

Lance laughed gaily as he lightly knocked off with his little finger the
ash from his cigar-end. This was a serious, a direful business; but he
had no intention to let the Greek see that his words had any alarming or
disturbing effect upon him, so he said with a smile--

"Excuse me for laughing at you, but, under the circumstances I really
could not help it. Your ignorance of the true state of affairs strikes
me as so positively ludicrous. You forget, my good sir, that I am
behind the scenes--in your secret, you know," he added, seeing a look of
bewilderment at the other expression. "Why, man, you and all your
people are absolutely at our mercy. You look surprised, but I assure
you such is the fact. I really do not know whether I ought to explain
myself to you; I scarcely think you deserve it after your recent
threats--no; I will keep my own counsel; you shall remain in your
ignorance."

And he turned to walk away.

"Stop," gasped Ralli, "what is it you mean? I _must_ know."

Lance paused for a full minute as though irresolute; at last he said--

"Well, perhaps it would be better for all parties that there should be
after all a clear understanding. You and your people outnumber our
party many times, and it is indisputable that you have it in your power
in consequence to make us very uncomfortable; but, for all that, you are
absolutely at our mercy; and therefore it will be greatly to your
advantage to treat us well. You will perhaps understand this better if
I inform you that your plot against Johnson has been betrayed" (he did
not think it necessary to explain that, as far as he knew, the only
betrayal of it had been in the incautious words uttered by the Greek
himself at the opening of their present conversation); "and that if he
does not return _neither will the brig_; and then how will you be
situated! You could possibly contrive to exist for a year upon the
provisions left on the island; you might even, aided by the productions
of the island itself, find sustenance for many years. But would the
spending of the rest of your lives on this island be in accordance with
your plans and wishes? And do you not think it possible that Johnson,
in revenge for your plot against him, may find means to direct some
cruiser to your hiding-place? Your imagination, I take it, is vivid
enough to picture the consequences of any such step on his part."

"We shall have the battery and t