e-escape at one A.M., it doesn't seem unreasonable of me
to expect some sort of an explanation."

"Oh, very well," returned Iff, with resignation. "What would you like to
know?"

"Why did you disappear this morning--?"

"Yesterday morning," Iff corrected dispassionately.

"--yesterday morning, and how?"

"Because the time seemed ripe for me to do my marvellous vanishing
stunt. You see, I had a hunch that the dear captain would turn things
over in his mind and finally determine not to accept my credentials at
their face value. So I kind of stuck round the wireless room with my
ears intelligently pricked forward. Sure enough, presently I heard the
message go out, asking what about me and how so."

"You mean you read the operator's sending by ear?"

"Sure; I've got a telegrapher's ear as long as a mule's.... Whereupon,
knowing just about what sort of an answer 'd come through, I made up my
mind to duck. And did."

"But how--?"

"That'd be telling, and telling would get somebody aboard the
Autocratic into terrible bad trouble if it ever leaked out. I crawled in
out of the weather--let it go at that. I wish," said Mr. Iff soulfully,
"those damn' Pinkerton men had let it go at that. Once or twice I really
thought they had me, or would have me the next minute. And they wouldn't
give up. That's why I had to take to the water, after dark. My friend,
who shall be nameless, lent me the loan of a rope and I shinned down
and had a nice little swim before I found a place to crawl ashore. I
assure you that the North River tastes like hell.... O thank you; don't
mind if I do."

"Then," said Staff, watching the little man help himself on his own
invitation--"Then you are Ismay!"

"Wrong again," said Iff drearily. "Honest, it's a real shame, the way
you can't seem to win any bets at all."

"If you're not Ismay, what made you hide?"

"Ah!" cried Iff admiringly--"shrewd and pertinent question! Now I'll
tell you, and you won't believe me. Because--now pay strict
attention--because we're near-twins."

"Who are twins?" demanded Staff staring.

"Him and me--Ismay and I-double-F. First cousins we are: his mother was
my aunt. Worse and more of it: our fathers were brothers. They married
the same day; Ismay and I were born in the same month. We look just
enough alike to be mistaken for one another when we're not together.
That's been a great help to him; he's made me more trouble than I've
time to tell you. The last time, I wa