think of
seeking for a native in hiding for Europe.

On either hand of the _Jessamy Bride's_ cabin five sleeping berths were
bulkheaded off. The Major's was right aft on the starboard side. Mine
was next his. The captain occupied a berth corresponding with the
Major's, right aft on the port side. Our solitary passenger was
exceedingly amiable and agreeable at the start and for days after. He
professed himself delighted with the cabin fare, and said it was not to
be bettered at three times the charge in the saloons of the steamers.
His drink he had himself laid in: it consisted mainly of claret and
soda. He had come aboard with a large cargo of Indian cigars, and was
never without a long, black weed, bearing some tongue-staggering,
up-country name, betwixt his lips. He was primed with professional
anecdote, had a thorough knowledge of life in India, both in the towns
and wilds, had seen service in Burmah and China, and was altogether one
of the most conversible soldiers I ever met: a scholar, something of a
wit, and all that he said and all that he did was rendered the more
engaging by grace of breeding.

Captain North declared to me he had never met so delightful a man in all
his life, and the pleasantest hours I ever passed on the ocean were
spent in walking the deck in conversation with Major Byron Hood.

For some days after we were at sea no reference was made either by the
Major or ourselves to the Maharajah of Ratnagiri's splendid gift to Her
Majesty the Queen. The captain and I and Mackenzie viewed it as tabooed
matter: a thing to be locked up in memory, just as, in fact, it was
hidden away in some cunningly-wrought receptacle in the Major's cabin.
One day at dinner, however, when we were about a week out from Calcutta,
Major Hood spoke of the Maharajah's gift. He talked freely about it; his
face was flushed as though the mere thought of the thing raised a
passion of triumph in his spirits. His eyes shone whilst he enlarged
upon the beauty and value of the stone.

[Illustration: "EXCEEDINGLY AMIABLE AND AGREEABLE."]

The captain and I exchanged looks; the steward was waiting upon us with
cocked ears, and that menial, deaf expression of face which makes you
know every word is being greedily listened to. We might therefore make
sure that before the first dog-watch came round all hands would have
heard that the Major had a diamond in his cabin intended for the Queen
of England, and worth fifteen thousand pounds.