the syndicate?" asked the detective.

"Yes. A big fellow has been down here once or twice. He's going out as
the manager, I guess. His name was--let me see now--"

"Voles?" suggested Steingall.

"No, that wasn't it. Oh, I've got it--Vane, it was."

Carshaw, dreadfully impatient, failed to understand all this preliminary
survey; but the detective had no warrant, and ship's captains become
crusty if their vessels are boarded in a peremptory manner without
justification. Moreover, Steingall quite emphatically ordered Carshaw to
remain on the wharf while he and others went on board.

"You want to strangle Voles, if possible," he said. "From what I've
heard of him he would meet the attempt squarely, and you two might do
each other serious injury. I simply refuse to permit any such thing. You
have a much more pleasant task awaiting you when you meet the young
lady. No one will say a word if you hug her as hard as you like."

Carshaw, agreeing to aught but delay, promised ruefully not to
interfere. When the river police were at hand a nod brought several
powerfully built officers closing in on the main gangway of the _Wild
Duck_. The police-captain, in uniform, accompanied Steingall on board.

A deck hand hailed them and asked their business.

"I want to see the captain," said the detective.

"There he is, boss, lookin' at you from the chart-house now."

They glanced up toward a red-faced, hectoring sort of person who
regarded them with evident disfavor. Some ships, loading for Central
American ports at out-of-the-way wharves, do not want uniformed police
on their decks.

The two climbed an iron ladder. Men at work in the forehold ceased
operations and looked up at them. Their progress was followed by many
interested eyes from the wharf. The captain glared angrily. He, too, had
noted the presence of the stalwart contingent near the gangway, nor had
he missed the police boat.

"What the--" he commenced; but the detective's stern question stopped an
outburst.

"Have you a man named Voles or Vane on board?"

"Mr. Vane--yes."

"Did he bring a young woman to this ship late last night?"

"I don't see--"

"Let me explain, captain. I'm from the detective bureau. The man I am
inquiring for is wanted on several charges."

The steady official tone caused the skipper to think. Here was no
cringing foreigner or laborer to be brow-beaten at pleasure.

"Well, I'm--" he growled. "Here, you," roaring at a man beneath, "g