d sea she pounded until one feared for her safety; in smooth water,
full steam ahead, she could snap off seventeen knots. She had a
twenty-foot launch, equal to fourteen knots, that made no more noise
than a sewing machine. Altogether there were worse as well as better
boats upon the sea than was the _Zulu Queen_.

Croesus Jr., disliking expense as noted, did not care to keep the _Zulu
Queen_ in commission. And yet the rust of retirement was eating into her
value! A yacht, a horse, and a woman, to keep at their best, should be
constantly in commission. Croesus Jr. offered the _Zulu Queen_ to Storri
for the spring and summer, Storri to foot the bills. This was a
sagacious move on the part of Croesus Jr. and meant to kill a brace of
birds with one stone. He would keep the _Zulu Queen_ steamed up at
another's cost, thereby avoiding the wharf rent as well as the rust of
her banishment; also he would please a nobleman. Storri accepted the
disinterested offer of the _Zulu Queen_ from Croesus Jr.; that was just
before he met London Bill.

After meeting that eminent bandit, Storri drove to Harlem, and gave
orders for overhauling the _Zulu Queen_, as well as for storing and
coaling her to the limit of her lockers and bunkers. She was to be made
ready for the crew and cruise by May first. Storri was armed with the
written order of Croesus Jr., and the shipyard people offered no demur;
since they charged all bills in true maritime fashion to the _Zulu
Queen_, and neither to Storri nor yet Croesus Jr., the latter provident
young person must finally face the expense--a financial disaster which
Croesus Jr. never foresaw, albeit Storri was not so blind. As London
Bill plies darksome spade and pick and pinch-bar, the Harlem shipmen are
furnishing and coaling and storing the _Zulu Queen_.

Storri said nothing of London Bill and the _Zulu Queen_ to the San Reve.
He had well-nigh given up the club, being willing to postpone all chance
of meeting either Mr. Harley or Richard, and was, therefore, a more
frequent visitor to Grant Place--a social situation that pleased the San
Reve vastly.

The San Reve used to dog Storri when he left her; and, inasmuch as she
never once traced him to the Harley house or its vicinity, her jealousy
began to sleep. But the San Reve, while she haunted the steps of Storri,
could not always follow his thoughts, and they went often to the
Harleys. Storri had the Harleys ever on his mind; each day served to
inte