mething that irked the skipper in this continual hint of
events in motion in which he might or might not figure without having
the slightest bearing on the inevitable result. And Houten saw and
understood. He made room for Barry on his own blanket, and his deep
rumbling voice droned in the skipper's ear, gradually soothing that
harassed shipmaster until he subsided to the influence of the beneficent
Goliath.

"Soon I shall tell you, Captain," said Houten. "Yoost now I say all iss
vell, ja. Yoost now I am glad my _Barang_ iss lost, mine friendt;
eferything iss goot, unt dere iss to be no more accidents."

Barry settled down to rest, gazing thoughtfully across the silent river.
The more distant reaches of the stream were still tinged redly with the
fierce jungle fire that grew and spread back to the flat lands. There
was some unfathomable influence that persuaded the skipper of the
superfluity of keeping watch now Vandersee was there, but the influence
could not tranquilize minds so utterly awakened as were those of the
destroyed ship's company. Gordon was restless and edged ever nearer to
the recumbent Vandersee; Little had fallen asleep but was obviously
dreaming what the others were wakefully thinking. Beyond the circle of
resting men Bill Blunt groaned away at an endless, tuneless ditty
concerning "A sailorman as fell overboard in a gale, an' fell wi' a gal
wi' a tail, an' got marri-e-d to a little marmaid an' wuz changed into a
marman, an' never arterwards could he see th' use o' the seaboots he
wore when he fell overboard, 'cos how could ye tell which boot 'ud fit a
bloomin' flapper as wuz naither right, ner left, but 'twartships?"

One by one the seamen slept, until only the white men around the
smoldering fire remained awake. Gordon peered continually into
Vandersee's smiling face, and when he dropped his gaze for a moment and
met Barry's bent full upon him, the two men saw in each other a fear
that was emphatically not for themselves, but nevertheless would not
quiet. It became too intense for concealment; the two big Hollanders
detected it, and a nod passed from Houten to Vandersee.

"You two gentlemen are anxious," smiled Vandersee. "Perhaps we can
dispense with a little of the mystery now, though even at this stage a
small slip will ruin all. I can tell you this, however, that the fire
over there that destroyed your ship, Captain, was unforeseen. My sentry,
who gave you my messages, was killed by an arrow f