urst to be on board ze sheep. Zar no use you be
mad, M'sieur; he laugh at you."

"Then for once he will laugh at the wrong man, Broussard," I said
soberly. Regretting the threat even as I uttered it, I left him and
walked aft, aware as I turned of the sneer on his face. Yet even then,
although burning with anger, I knew better than to remain. I dare not
speak the bitter words on my tongue, feeling certain that whatever I
said would be repeated to Henley. I despised Broussard, and would have
taken the rat by the throat, but for a wholesome fear of his master. I
knew men well enough to understand the character of the _Sea Gull's_
Captain. With unlimited power in his hands he was not an antagonist to
be despised. He was a cruel, merciless coward, and, in spite of my
boast, I realized how helpless I was to oppose his will, here, in the
midst of men who would obey his slightest command. Nor did I doubt his
purpose; now that he had seemingly won me over to his scheme, he would
turn his attention to her, feeling secure from interference. I had
permitted him to believe that she was but a chance acquaintance, in
whom I felt little interest, and he would consequently anticipate no
serious protest from me. Even if I did intervene he possessed the
power to render me helpless. And he was Judge Henley's son, or, at
least, so these men believed who had been associated with him for
years. The situation grew more and more complicated; it was no longer
merely her word against his, and yet I could not doubt the truth of any
statement she had made to me. There was a mystery here unexplained,
involving the dead, and strangely complicating the lives of the living.

I paced the deck undisturbed, struggling vainly to evolve some
solution. Broussard stared in my direction for a moment, but made no
effort to follow, and finally disappeared forward. There was nothing
on sea or land to distract my attention, and I felt that I would be
nearer to her below in the cabin than on deck. The skylight was
closed, although even then it gave me a partial view, and, as I gazed
through the clouded glass, I perceived a shadow pass. The next instant
the negro steward emerged from the companion. Some swift impulse led
me to crouch instantly out of sight, until the sound of his feet on the
deck convinced me the fellow was going forward. I watched him
cautiously; he stopped twice to glance back, but, perceiving nothing,
finally vanished into t