el ladder to the deck above. Just as he himself was
about to set foot on it, the sound of a smothered cough came from the
spot where the men lay hidden, and at the same instant the officer
stopped and looked round. Browne felt his whole body grow cold with
terror. Fortunately, however, even if he had heard it, the other
failed to place the proper construction upon it, and they left the
engine-room without further comment. Then, having explored the
smoking-room and deck-house, they made their way aft to the
drawing-room by way of the main companion-ladder.

"I have two ladies on board, monsieur," said Browne as they reached the
drawing-room and stood for a moment looking about them, "also the sick
friend of whom I spoke to you just now. Perhaps you would not mind
waiving your right to inspect their cabins."

"Monsieur," returned the officer, "I must see every cabin. There must
be no exceptions."

"In that case," replied Browne, "there is no more to be said. Will you
be kind enough to accompany me?"

So saying, he led him forward a few paces, and, having shown him the
pantry and stewards' quarters, the storerooms, bathrooms, and other
domestic offices, took him to the cabin in which Maas was undergoing
his involuntary confinement. Browne knocked softly upon the door, and
a moment later Jimmy Foote opened it, with his finger on his lips as if
to warn them to be silent.

"Hush!" he whispered. "Don't wake him; he has been asleep for nearly
half an hour, and it will do him a world of good."

Browne translated this speech to the officer, and, when he had done so,
they entered and approached the bedside. The representative of
Imperial Russia looked down upon Maas, who was sleeping as placidly as
a little child; at the same time his eyes took in the rows of medicine
bottles on the table and all the usual paraphernalia of a sick-room.
It was plain not only, that he imagined Jimmy Foote to be the doctor in
charge, but also that he knew nothing of the identity of the man before
him.

"What is the matter with him?" he asked a little suspiciously of Browne.

"Pneumonia, following a severe chill," the other replied. "We want to
get him down to Yokohama as quickly as possible in order that we may
place him in the hospital there. I presume you are satisfied that he
is not the man you want?"

The officer nodded his head. "Quite satisfied," he answered
emphatically. "The man I want is a little, old fellow with red