it on the table
together with two glasses.

"Drink as much as you like to-night," he said; "but remember we lift
anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There
are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?"

Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly
before answering.

"I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin'
throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink.
If it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old
hand at the game."

Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly.

"It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want
to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?"

The man laughed. "Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink
serious. You can depend on me," and he poured out some more liquor.

"Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my
pocket already."

CHAPTER XVII

Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of
Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went
on shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour
they were all on board and the _Lupetea_ was spinning along the southern
shore of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very
smooth. At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour
called Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul
the head sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so
quietly that the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done
was the Samoan, Lilo--a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years
of age. He was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands
go over the side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which
belonged to Mrs. Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been
left on deck, was passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking
to the side, was looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him
by the shoulder and ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was
called. Very unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to
go below into the foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with
a belaying-pin, that the boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once
descended, and immediately the fore scuttle was closed and bolted from
the deck. The place was in d