ut it was not until he stepped forward to me that I recognized
him.

"A pleasant evening if one doesn't object to fog, Mr. Sedgwick," he
said, lifting his hat and bowing.

"It's you, is it?" I answered, coolly enough.

"Thought I'd drop down and see how you are getting along. The _Argos_
looks like a good sailor. I congratulate you."

"Thanks."

"You sail to-morrow, I understand."

"Since you know already I'll save myself the trouble of telling you."

"Sharp work, Mr. Sedgwick. I needed only one good look at you to know
you were a first-class man for this sort of thing."

"I am delighted that my work pleases Captain Bothwell."

He passed my irony with a laugh.

"Oh, I didn't say it pleased me. I'm after the treasure myself, and I'm
going to get it. But I'm not a fool. I can appreciate even an enemy when
I find him on the job."

"And of course your appreciation won't keep you from sticking a knife in
him if you find it necessary."

"Of course not. I said I wasn't a fool," he admitted easily.

We were standing on the edge of the wharf, shut out from the world by a
fog bank that left us to all intents alone. It was an uncanny place to
meet one's dearest enemy. Faintly I could still hear the splashing of
the oars as the boat that had brought me ashore moved back to the
_Argos_. Otherwise no sound but the lapping of the waves at the piles
broke the silence.

Our eyes met straight as a plummet falls. Each of us had his right hand
in his overcoat pocket. I can't swear to what was in his fingers, but I
felt a good deal safer for what was in mine. My back was still toward
the bay, for I had a vision of the man who had disappeared--whoever he
might be--slipping up through the white fog and sticking a knife between
my shoulder-blades.

The captain gave me his friendliest smile.

"But you needn't be afraid. What would it profit me to get rid of you
here? I don't suppose you have the map with you?"

At the last words his black eyes stabbed at me a question.

I shook my head.

"No, it wouldn't be worth while murdering me now to get the map. I'm not
a fool either, captain. It isn't on me."

"So I judged. Then you may make your mind easy--for the present."

"I'm not so sure about that. Wouldn't it pay you to put me out of the
road, anyhow? You'll not get the treasure so long as I'm alive, you
know."

"There you touch my vanity, Mr. Sedgwick. I'm of a contrary opinion.
Dead or alive you can't keep me from it