'-polish
bloomin' Hadmiral along in a ship. Take her, says I, an' Gawd bless
her."

They set out, Natalie marching between Rolfe and Blunt with the free,
supple swing and stride of a real girl of the outdoors. At least she
gave little promise of hindrance in the actual journey, no matter what
the outcome might be when action was afoot. And as they threaded their
tortuous way through odorous jungle and sickeningly sweet-scented
thicket, at the nimble heels of the silent guide, Natalie surprised
glances of awed admiration on the faces of her stout escorts.

Jerry Rolfe became so nearly converted to her side as the journey grew
hotter and heavier, seeing her maintain her pace as well as himself, if
not better, that he found himself stumbling every few yards sheerly
through his inability to keep his eyes from her. He was bursting to
talk; there was yet a problem unsolved in his mind; and when a stretch
of level glade gave him back his breath, he spoke.

"Tell me, Miss," he panted, "just what is that Vandersee?"

"Why, Mr. Vandersee is connected with the Holland Naval Service, I
believe, Mr. Rolfe. Why?" answered Natalie, with a cool smile.

Jerry Rolfe glared at her, his lips working furiously to no effect. He
could not speak; and Bill Blunt, who had caught question and answer,
seemed in as bad case. They sought each other's eyes, and the silent
interchange of thought between them solved the puzzle, at least as far
as the mate was concerned. He grew hot and almost choked; but his lips
could only utter:

"Naval service? Hell!"

He muttered an apology, but for the rest of the journey Natalie walked
in absolute bewilderment. She could have no idea of the effect of her
reply, except as outwardly evidenced in the mate's attitude. She could
not know that in the breast of Rolfe, as in that of Bill Blunt, she had
resurrected the demon of distrust towards Vandersee. All the voyage's
suspicion that had troubled Rolfe resurged to the top now; knowing that
Barry had been taken by supposed navy officers, the honest mate saw no
room for doubt that the big Hollander had deliberately insinuated
himself into the second mate's berth aboard the _Barang_ for no other
purpose than to defeat his skipper. And now he had done it properly.
Jerry Rolfe was sure of it. He told his decision to Blunt, who knew
Vandersee by report only; and the old sea-dog replied
characteristically,--by spitting into his palms and loosening his
cutlass in the