the chance; but Ward isn't the man to
give you any chance. There may be shooting necessary within the next day
or so, and there's nothing to prevent Ward letting you have it in the
back, purely by accident; and if he don't do it then there'll be all
kinds of opportunities for it before any of us ever see a white man's
port again. He'll get you, Byrne, he's that kind.

"Now, with my proposition you'll be shut of Ward, Skipper Simms, and
Divine. There'll be more money in it for you, an' you won't have to go
around expecting a bullet in the small of your back every minute. What
do you say? Are you game, or shall I have to go back to Skipper Simms
and Ward and tell them that I caught you eavesdropping?"

"Oh, I'm game," said Billy Byrne, "if you'll promise me a square deal on
the divvy."

The Frenchman extended his hand.

"Let's shake on it," he said.

Billy took the proffered palm in his.

"That's a go," he said; "but hadn't you better wise me to wot's doin'?"

"Not now," said Theriere, "someone might overhear just as you did. Wait
a bit until I have a better opportunity, and I'll tell you all there is
to know. In the meantime think over who'd be the best men to let into
this with us--we'll need three or four more besides ourselves. Now go on
deck about your duties as though nothing had happened, and if I'm a bit
rougher than usual with you you'll understand that it's to avert any
possible suspicion later."

"I'm next," said Billy Byrne.

CHAPTER IV. PIRACY

BY DUSK the trim little brigantine was scudding away toward the west
before a wind that could not have suited her better had it been made to
order at the special behest of the devil himself to speed his minions
upon their devil's work.

All hands were in the best of humor. The crew had forgotten their recent
rancor at not having been permitted shore leave at Honolulu in the
expectancy of adventure in the near future, for there was that in
the atmosphere of the Halfmoon which proclaimed louder than words the
proximity of excitement, and the goal toward which they had been sailing
since they left San Francisco.

Skipper Simms and Divine were elated at the luck which had brought
them to Honolulu in the nick of time, and at the success of Theriere's
mission at that port. They had figured upon a week at least there before
the second officer of the Halfmoon could ingratiate himself sufficiently
into the goodwill of the Hardings to learn their plans, and no