rned at the
shout, as if just awakening from a dream, and the second mate told him
respectfully:

"It would be as well to have the stern windows closed, sir. The natives
here are not too honest, in spite of the Mission's good work."

Barry gave the necessary order through the skylight and shook himself
into a more vital interest in his work. He opened his mouth to direct
the mate in some detail of mooring ship, and it remained open until he
half-closed it in a whistle of surprise and seized Little violently by
the arm. His eyes were fixed upon a figure walking easily and
unconcernedly along the wharf.

"Look!" he breathed, and Little winced with the pain of his grip. "Look!
How in thunder did she get here ahead of us?"

"She? Who?" stammered Little, gazing shoreward. "Oh, the woman who
tried to scrape an acquaintance at Solo, isn't it? Steamer, I suppose.
Gee! I thought you'd seen the little missionary by the savage way you
bit into my wing. Hope I ain't in reach when you do catch sight of her,
old scout. You're too blamed carnivorous."

"Oh, shut up!" growled the skipper, shaking the irrepressible salesman
furiously. "There's no joke in this. Wanted to go to Europe, didn't she?
Wasn't that her reason for begging a passage? Well, you darned lunatic!
Is this Europe? Or anywhere near it? Let me tell you, there's no steamer
touching here from Surabaya or anywhere else. Sanjai's the nearest
steamer port--a ship a month; besides, no man or woman other than a
breech-clouted deer-footed native could get here from Sanjai in less
than a week. She looks as if she just hopped out of a Paris trunk!"

Little made no verbal response. He left Barry abruptly, sprang to the
bulwarks, and leaped to the dock, not waiting for the gangplank to be
run out. Then, assuming his best salesman's smile, he walked directly
over to the woman and raised his hat.

"Glad to meet you again, Madam," he smiled. "Small place, this old
globe, isn't it? Didn't expect to see you until we reached Europe. How
on earth did you get here so quickly?"

"How do you do, Mr.--er--let me see--is it Mr. Little, or Captain
Barry?" she beamed, extending a small, shapely hand frankly. "Mr.
Little? Thanks. I'm so glad to see you. Business demanded that I make a
call here before going home; but I never dared to hope that I would meet
old friends here. I must visit your ship and renew the Captain's
acquaintance," and she dazzled Little with a sunny smile.

"Surely,