e accordingly
departed to her cabin, and in five minutes rejoined him. In the
meanwhile Browne had visited the cabin on the starboard side, and had
informed Foote of all that had transpired. Maas was still sleeping
quietly in his bunk.

"Thank goodness they've cleared out," said Jimmy. "Now our friend here
can wake up as soon as he pleases."

"The sooner the better," Browne replied. "In the meantime, Jimmy, I've
something awfully important to say to you."

In a few words Browne told him what he had discovered, and what he
suspected. Foote listened with attention, and when he had finished,
scratched his chin and regarded his own face in the mirror opposite,
looking the very figure and picture of perplexity.

"What did I always tell you?" he remarked at last. "I was as certain
then, as I am now, that the woman was playing some underhand game,
though what it is I cannot say. However, I'll find out somehow or
another. Upon my word, when we return to civilization, I think I shall
embark upon the career of a private inquiry agent."

Feeling that there was nothing more to be said upon the subject just
then, Browne left him, and returned to the drawing-room in search of
Katherine. He found her ready to accompany him to the deck above.

"The fresh air will soon bring the roses back to your cheeks," he
whispered, as they made their way along the drawing-room in the
direction of the companion-ladder.

She was about to reply, when the sound of footsteps reached them from
the port alley-way, and, before they had set foot upon the first step,
MacAndrew and the fugitive stood before them. Browne noticed that
Katherine instinctively shrank away from the latter. He accordingly
slipped his arm round her, and, telling MacAndrew that he would like to
speak to him in a few minutes, led her to the deck above.

CHAPTER XXX

Their first business when they reached the deck was to glance in the
direction whence they had last seen the cruiser. Then she had been a
living and very present reality to them; now she was only a tiny speck
upon the horizon, and in a quarter of an hour, or even less, she would
have vanished altogether. They made their way aft to the taffrail, and
stood there leaning on the rail, looking at her. Both felt that it was
a crisis in their lives, that had to be tided over, and knew that, if
ever they desired to be happy together, they must fight the next ten
minutes on their merits. For this rea