ship was bound for Europe," grinned the sailor. "She came right
back, too; said that's just where she wants to go. She was urging me to
sell her a berth when you came in and saved me."

Little glanced out again then suddenly pulled Barry from the window.

"Come out and watch the crowd," he said. "Some of these people are worth
watching. The Samarang train is due." With the announcement Little
leaped from the train and impatiently awaited his companion.

"Easy to see the people worth watching," laughed Barry, joining him.

Little walked up the platform towards the knot of folks with whom the
lady was last seen, and the sailor followed with an indulgent grin.
Together they reached the locomotive of their train, and like a vision
the strange lady emerged from nowhere and approached them, smiling
brilliantly.

"How do you do, Mr. Little," she greeted, and Little's politeness was
scarcely proof against his astonishment. He stared in amazement at her
ready use of his name. And he was certain now that he had never set eyes
on this radiant being before. The lady prattled on, with a note of
reproof: "Captain Barry refuses to accommodate a lady in distress. Won't
you persuade him to sell me a passage in his ship, Mr. Little?"

Little was sharp-witted. But even he was nonplussed to find their errand
so obviously known in part. As for Barry, simple, straight sailor that
he was, he was dumbfounded.

What the outcome might have been was left in doubt. The warning whistle
of the incoming train jarred the warm air, and the crowd surged every
way, creating a diversion that precluded reply. The train from the north
drew in and disgorged its passengers, voluble or stolid, according to
whether they were of the native subjects or the Dutch masters. Out of
the scrambling chaos of chugging trains, first, second, and third-class
passengers were directed or driven to their respective locations amid
hoarse or shrill orders of guttural European or musical Javanese
trainmen.

Until the last few passengers were mounting the train steps, Barry and
Little lingered, watching the human kaleidoscope and awkwardly conscious
that they made poor figures before the lady at their side. Then they
were attracted by an altercation going on farther along the station
platform, and when they turned again the mysterious lady had as
mysteriously vanished.

"She's gone!" breathed Barry, with relief.

"Good egg!" echoed Little, then seized Barry's arm. "Com