?" he asked. "What do you know? For the
Lord's sake don't fool with me about it!"

"Me no fool," declared Tsang. "You le' me talkee number, him win big
heap money."

"But how do you know?"

"Me savey," said Tsang enigmatically.

Again Reynolds studied the impassive face. "It's on the square, Tsang?
You don't stand in with anybody below decks? The thing is on the level?"
Then finding further elucidation necessary, he added, "No belong cheat!"

Tsang Foo shook his head positively. "No belong cheat, all belong
ploper. No man savey, only me savey, this side," and he tapped his head
significantly.

Reynolds gave a short, unpleasant laugh. "All right," he said, thrusting
his hand in his pocket. "I'll give myself one more chance. There'll be
time to-morrow to finish my job. I'll make a bargain with you, Tsang!
Bet this, and this, and this, on the next run for me. You win, I no
makee shoot; you lose, you promise bring back pistol, then go way. My
can do what thing my wantchee, see?"

Tsang Foo looked at him cunningly: "I win, you belong good boy? Stop
whisky-soda, maybe?"

Reynolds laughed in spite of himself: "Going to reform me, oh? All
right, it's a bargain."

Tsang allowed his hand to be shaken, then he carefully counted over the
express checks that had been given to him.

"My go now," he announced as eight bells sounded from the bridge.

As the door closed Reynolds sighed, then his eyes brightened as they
fell upon the sandwiches. Even a desperate young man on the verge of
suicide if he is hungry must needs cheer up temporarily at the sight of
food. Reynolds had taken an early breakfast after being up all night,
and had eaten nothing since. After devouring the sandwiches and tea with
relish, he ordered a hot bath, and in less than an hour was wrapped in
his berth sleeping the sleep that is not confined to the righteous.

It was high noon the next day when he awoke. His first feeling was one
of exhilaration: the long sleep, the fresh sea air pouring in at the
port-hole, and a sense of perfect physical well-being had made him
forget, for a moment, the serious business the day might have in store
for him.

As he lay, half dozing, he became dimly aware that something was wrong.
The throb of the engines had ceased, and an ominous stillness prevailed.
He sat up in bed and listened, then he thrust his head out of the
port-hole, only to see a deserted deck. The passage was likewise
deserted save for a hurried stew