k so simple now in the face of that solitude which was
like an armour for this man. The feeling voiced by the henchman in his
own way--"We don't seem much forwarder now we are here" was acknowledged
by the silence of the patron. It was easy enough to rip a fellow up or
drill a hole in him, whether he was alone or not, Ricardo reflected in
low, confidential tones, but--

"He isn't alone," Mr. Jones said faintly, in his attitude of a man
composed for sleep. "Don't forget that Chinaman." Ricardo started
slightly.

"Oh, ay--the Chink!"

Ricardo had been on the point of confessing about the girl; but no! He
wanted his governor to be unperturbed and steady. Vague thoughts,
which he hardly dared to look in the face, were stirring his brain in
connection with that girl. She couldn't be much account, he thought. She
could be frightened. And there were also other possibilities. The Chink,
however, could be considered openly.

"What I was thinking about it, sir," he went on earnestly, "is
this--here we've got a man. He's nothing. If he won't be good, he can be
made quiet. That's easy. But then there's his plunder. He doesn't carry
it in his pocket."

"I hope not," breathed Mr. Jones.

"Same here. It's too big, we know, but if he were alone, he would not
feel worried about it overmuch--I mean the safety of the pieces. He
would just put the lot into any box or drawer that was handy."

"Would he?"

"Yes, sir. He would keep it under his eye, as it were. Why not? It is
natural. A fellow doesn't put his swag underground, unless there's a
very good reason for it."

"A very good reason, eh?"

"Yes, sir. What do you think a fellow is--a mole?"

From his experience, Ricardo declared that man was not a burrowing
beast. Even the misers very seldom buried their hoard, unless for
exceptional reasons. In the given situation of a man alone on an island,
the company of a Chink was a very good reason. Drawers would not be
safe, nor boxes, either, from a prying, slant-eyed Chink. No, sir,
unless a safe--a proper office safe. But the safe was there in the room.

"Is there a safe in this room? I didn't notice it," whispered Mr. Jones.

That was because the thing was painted white, like the walls of the
room; and besides, it was tucked away in the shadows of a corner. Mr.
Jones had been too tired to observe anything on his first coming ashore;
but Ricardo had very soon spotted the characteristic form. He only
wished he could believe th