pe to Mexico, only returning to
California a month ago, when he was recognised (although disguised) and
captured, and at the time of his escape was within two days of the time
of his trial before Judge Crittenden.'"

*****

"There's always a woman in these things," said Lupton, as the supercargo
gave him back the slip. "Come on." And he got down from his seat on the
wall. "There's Mameri calling us to _kaikai_--stewed pigeons. She's a
bully old cook; worth her weight in Chile dollars."

IN NOUMEA

Chester was listening to those charming musicians, the convict band,
playing in Noumea, and saw in the crowd a man he knew--more, an old
friend, S------. The recognition was mutual and pleasing to both. They
had not met for six years. He was then chief officer of a China steamer;
now he was captain of a big tramp steamer that had called in to load
nickel ore. "Who," exclaimed Chester, "would ever have thought of
meeting _you_ here?"

He laughed and replied: "I came with a purpose. You remember Miss ------,
to whom I was engaged in Sydney?"

Chester nodded, expecting from the sparkle in S------'s dark brown eye
that he was going to hear a little gush about her many wifely qualities.

"Well, I was in Sydney three times after I saw you. We were to be
married as soon as I got a command. Two years ago I was there last. She
had got married. Wrote me a letter saying she knew my calmer judgment
would finally triumph over my anger--she had accepted a good offer, and
although I might be nettled, perhaps, at first, yet she was sure my good
sense would applaud her decision in marrying a man who, although she
could never love him as she loved me, was very rich. But she would
always look forward to meeting me again. That was all."

"Hard lines," said Chester.

"My dear boy, I thought that at first, when her letter knocked me flat
aback. But I got over it, and I swore I would pay her out. And I came to
this den of convicts to do it, and I did it--yesterday. She is here."

"_Here?_" said Chester.

And then he learnt the rest of Captain S------'s story. A year after his
lady-love had jilted him he received a letter from her in England. She
was in sad trouble, she said. Her husband, a Victorian official, was
serving five years for embezzlement. Her letter was suggestive of a
desire to hasten to the "protection" of her sailor lover. She wished,
she said, that her husband were dead. But dead or alive she would always
hate _him