over the liability."

"Did I, indeed? Do you know anything of Varnhagen's business?"

"No more than I do of the Devil's."

"You don't seem to like the firm of Varnhagen and Co."

"I have no reason to, except that the head of it buys a trinket from me
now and then, and makes me 'take it out' by ordering through him."

"Just so. You would like to get even with him?"

"Try me."

"Are you good in a boat, Tresco?"

The goldsmith seemed to think, and his cogitation made him smile.

"Tolerably," he said. "I'm not exactly amphibious, but I'd float, I'd
float, I believe," and he looked at his portly figure.

"Are you good with an oar?"

"Pretty moderate," said Tresco, trying to think which end of the boat he
would face while pulling.

"And you've got pluck, I hope?"

"I hope," said the goldsmith.

"To be plain with you, Tresco, I've need of the services of such a man
as yourself, reliable, silent, staunch, and with just enough of the
devil in him to make him face the music."

Benjamin scratched his head, and wondered what was coming.

"You want a hundred pounds," said the merchant.

"A hundred and fifty badly," said the goldsmith.

"We'll call it a hundred," said the merchant. "I've lost considerably
over this wreck--you can understand that?"

"I can."

"Well, Varnhagen, who has long been a thorn in my side, and has been
threatening to start a line of boats in opposition to me, has decided, I
happen to hear, to take immediate advantage of my misfortune. But I'll
checkmate him."

"You're the man to do it."

"I hold a contract for delivering mails from shore. By a curious
juncture of circumstances, I have to take out the English mail to-morrow
night to the _Takariwa_, and bring an English mail ashore from her.
Both these mails are _via_ Sydney, and I happen to know that Varnhagen's
letters ordering his boats will be in the outgoing mail, and that he is
expecting correspondence referring to the matter by the incoming mail.
He must get neither. Do you understand?--neither."

Tresco remained silent.

"You go on board my boat--it will be dark; nobody will recognise you.
Furthermore I shall give you written authority to do the work. You can
find your own crew, and I will pay them, through you, what you think
fit. But as to the way you effect my purpose, I am to know nothing. You
make your own plans, and keep them to yourself. But bring me the
correspondence, and you get your money."

"Make it L200. A hu