usy while yet the skipper wrestled with his
bewilderment. Little kept away from him, until they met while taking a
little food as the sun came up; then his bursting curiosity got the
better of his restraint.

"Don't be so darned grumpy, Barry," he protested. "Didn't I share the
trip? Ain't I entitled to know what happened?"

Barry grimly related his experience on the wharf, and as he spoke he
detected a light in Little's wide eyes that grew from astonishment at
his tale to unbelieving contempt for his own denseness. "What's the joke
now?" he demanded bearishly.

"Gee-hos-o'-phat!" gasped Little. "D' ye mean to say you didn't tumble
to it? Why, man alive, because you saw Mrs. Goring leaving the schooner
at midnight, when you expected to see Miss Sheldon, that don't prove
Miss Sheldon wasn't aboard there!"

"Hey, Rolfe!" the skipper roared, "keep an eye on that schooner and
hurry up with those leaks! Stand by until I get back!"

In a couple of minutes Barry was in the punt and well away from the
ship, paddling swiftly towards the wharf astern of the schooner. He tied
up his tiny craft, ran along to the _Padang's_ gangway, and mounted to
her deck with arms swinging and fists tight, determined to meet any
opposition with force.

And he found his entry ridiculously easy. A little brown man at the
gangway grating stared at him with faint interest; another little brown
man stepped aside for him at the main-deck doors to the cabin, and
neither of them showed either concern or hostility. For a moment this
very circumstance halted Barry, whose temper had not entirely burned up
his shrewdness. He made the rest of his way to the saloon with caution,
but without any more hesitation, and while his hand closed on the pistol
in his pocket he kept it there. He listened for pattering feet, or
closing doors; but no trap was sprung on him, and he entered the great
saloon and was brought to an abrupt stand at sight of Miss Sheldon
sitting calmly and comfortably at the table engaged on some trifle of
feminine sewing.

"Good morning, Captain," she said brightly, rising and extending her
hand. "This is an unexpected visit, isn't it?"

"I expect so," he returned, gazing hard into her smiling face. As her
smile grew brighter, his own face darkened, until she began to look
embarrassed at his boorish temper. "I want you to tell me, once for all,
Miss Sheldon, that you are here of your own choice and free will," he
blurted out. "If I'm un