mean by that?"

Grief casually relighted his cigar.

"I don't know just how to begin," he said. "The situation is--er--is
embarrassing for you. You see, I'm trying to be fair. As I say, you've
worked hard. I don't want to confiscate the pearls. I want to pay you
for your time and trouble, and expense."

Conviction, instantaneous and absolute, froze on the other's face.

"And I thought you were in Europe," he muttered. Hope flickered for
a moment. "Look here, you're joking me. How do I know you're Swithin
Hall?"

Grief shrugged his shoulders. "Such a joke would be in poor taste, after
your hospitality. And it is equally in poor taste to have two Swithin
Halls on the island."

"Since you're Swithin Hall, then who the deuce am I? Do you know that,
too?"

"No," Grief answered airily. "But I'd like to know."

"Well, it's none of your business."

"I grant it. Your identity is beside the point. Besides, I know your
schooner, and I can find out who you are from that."

"What's her name?"

"The _Emily L._

"Correct. I'm Captain Raffy, owner and master."

"The seal-poacher? I've heard of you. What under the sun brought you
down here on my preserves?"

"Needed the money. The seal herds are about finished."

"And the out-of-the-way places of the world are better policed, eh?"

"Pretty close to it. And now about this present scrape, Mr. Hall. I can
put up a nasty fight. What are you going to do about it?"

"What I said. Even better. What's the _Emily L._ worth?"

"She's seen her day. Not above ten thousand, which would be robbery.
Every time she's in a rough sea I'm afraid she'll jump her ballast
through her planking."

"She has jumped it, Captain Raffy. I sighted her bottom-up after the
blow. Suppose we say she was worth seven thousand five hundred. I'll
pay over to you fifteen thousand and give you a passage. Don't move your
hands from your lap." Grief stood up, went over to him, and took his
revolver. "Just a necessary precaution, Captain. Now you'll go on board
with me. I'll break the news to Mrs. Raffy afterward, and fetch her out
to join you."

"You're behaving handsomely, Mr. Hall, I must say," Captain Raffy
volunteered, as the whaleboat came alongside the _Uncle Toby_. "But
watch out for Gorman and Watson. They're ugly customers. And, by the
way, I don't like to mention it, but you've seen my wife. I've given her
four or five pearls. Watson and Gorman were willing."

"Say no more, Captain. Say no