flash of warning intuition he knew it. The danger of
such a situation on a yacht would be real and only a fool would rush
into it. He wondered if she had played any part in hatching the scheme.
He couldn't believe it possible. It had come about naturally, just as
if the devil had made it to order.

"Can't go? Why?" the financier asked in tones of genuine distress.

"I've important legal business."

"I'll make good all the damages, if you'll let me."

"But I won't let you."

"If I ask it as a special favour?" he pleaded.

"There's no use in my going, Cal," Stuart said persuasively, "I can
tell you exactly where to go, the guides to get, and the kind of boats
you'll need. You'll get along better without than with me."

"I won't go without you," the financier said peevishly.

"But why?"

"Dozens of reasons. You know the place, you know all about the birds,
you can teach me the ins and outs of the business and I can trust you.
I know that you won't try to worm out of me any information my enemies
would like to know. Besides, Jim, you're a friend. It would rest and
help me to be with you on such a trip. I can't offer you money, you
won't let me. All right. I appeal to the boy I used to know at college,
the fellow who fought for me one day. I need you worse now, old man."

Stuart hesitated and looked at Nan who had stood motionless while
Bivens spoke.

"Well, if that's the way you put it, I'll take a vacation and go with
you for a month."

Bivens seized his hand and pressed it gratefully.

"Best medicine I've had in weeks."

Nan walked slowly across the room, looked into his eyes and said, with
emotion:

"Thank you, Jim."

And the devil who was standing in the shadows smiled in anticipation of
interesting events on board that yacht.

CHAPTER II

BESIDE BEAUTIFUL WATERS

In five days the party had completed all preparations and Bivens's big
steamer, the _Buccaneer_, slipped quietly through the Narrows and
headed for the Virginia coast, towing a trim little schooner built for
cruising in the shoal waters of the South.

They had scarcely put to sea when Stuart began to curse himself for
being led into such a situation.

Bivens had insisted with amateurish enthusiasm that they begin the
cruise on the little schooner--with her limited crew and close
quarters--at once, and use the _Buccaneer_ as her tender. The moment
they struck the swell outside Sandy Hook the financier went to bed and
the do