out," Grief encouraged.

"Well, then--" The captain hesitated and cleared his throat. "With all
the money you've got, only a fool would take the risk you did with those
two curs. What do you do it for?"

"Honestly, I don't know, Captain. I just want to, I suppose. And can you
give any better reason for anything you do?"

"You'll get your bally head shot off some fine day," Captain Ward
growled in answer, as he stepped to the binnacle and took the bearing
of a peak which had just thrust its head through the clouds that covered
Guadalcanar.

The land breeze strengthened in a last effort, and the _Wonder_,
slipping swiftly through the water, ranged alongside the _Kauri_ and
began to go by. Greetings flew back and forth, then David Grief called
out:

"Seen anything of the _Willi-Waw_?"

The captain, slouch-hatted and barelegged, with a rolling twist hitched
the faded blue _lava-lava_ tighter around his waist and spat tobacco
juice overside.

"Sure," he answered. "Griffiths lay at Savo last night, taking on pigs
and yams and filling his water-tanks. Looked like he was going for a
long cruise, but he said no. Why? Did you want to see him?"

"Yes; but if you see him first don't tell him you've seen me."

The captain nodded and considered, and walked for'ard on his own deck to
keep abreast of the faster vessel.

"Say!" he called. "Jacobsen told me they were coming down this afternoon
to Gabera. Said they were going to lay there to-night and take on sweet
potatoes."

"Gabera has the only leading lights in the Solomons," Grief said, when
his schooner had drawn well ahead. "Is that right, Captain Ward?"

The captain nodded.

"And the little bight just around the point on this side, it's a rotten
anchorage, isn't it?"

"No anchorage. All coral patches and shoals, and a bad surf. That's
where the _Molly_ went to pieces three years ago."

Grief stared straight before him with lustreless eyes for a full minute,
as if summoning some vision to his inner sight. Then the corners of his
eyes wrinkled and the ends of his yellow mustache lifted in a smile.

"We'll anchor at Gabera," he said. "And run in close to the little bight
this side. I want you to drop me in a whaleboat as you go by. Also,
give me six boys, and serve out rifles. I'll be back on board before
morning."

The captain's face took on an expression of suspicion, which swiftly
slid into one of reproach.

"Oh, just a little fun, skipper," Grief proteste