o pump more lies out
of them. We'll go where they came from, and we'll get there before
we can ask questions and get straight replies."

Cap'n Sproul, left alone on the cutter's deck, took out his big wallet,
abstracted that fifteen-thousand-dollar check signed by Gideon Ward,
and seemed about to fling it into the sea.

"Talk about your hoodoos!" he gritted. "Talk about your banana skins
of Tophet! Twice I've slipped up on it and struck that infernal island.
Even his name written on a piece of paper is a cuss to the man that
lugs it!"

But after hale second thought he put the check back into his wallet
and the wallet into his breast pocket and buttoned his coat securely.
And the set of his jaws and the wrinkling of his forehead showed that
the duel between him and Colonel Ward was not yet over.

As the steamer with the dun smoke-stack approached Cod Lead he noted
sourly the frantic signallings of the marooned. He leaned on the rail
and watched the departure of the officer of the faded blue cap with
his crew of the sponson boat. He observed the details of the animated
meeting of the rescuers and the rescued. Without great astonishment
he saw that Hiram, of all the others, remained on shore, leaning
disconsolately against the protecting bulk of Imogene.

"It's most a wonder he didn't try to load that infernal elephant onto
that life-boat," he muttered. "If I couldn't travel through life
without bein' tagged by an old gob of meat of that size, I'd hire
a museum and settle down in it."

Cap'n Sproul, still leaning on the rail, paid no attention to the
snort that Colonel Ward emitted as he passed on his way to the
security of the steamer's deck. He resolutely avoided the
reproachful starings of the members of the Smyrna fire department
as they struggled on board. Mr. Butts came last and attempted to say
something, but retreated promptly before the Cap'n's fiendish snarl
and clicking teeth.

"That man there, with the elephant, says he can't leave her,"
reported Faded Cap to the wondering group on the bridge.

"A United States cutter isn't sent out to collect menageries
accompanied by dry-nurses," stated the commander. "What is this job
lot, anyway--a circus in distress?"

"Says the elephant can swim out if we'll rig a tackle and hoist her
on board. Says elephant is used to it."

Something in the loneliness of the deserted two on Cod Lead must have
appealed to the commander. He was profane about it, and talked abo