aid bitterly.

At the sound of my voice a tall woman in the rank five feet deep from us
turned instinctively round, and Liosha and I looked into each other's
eyes.

CHAPTER XVIII

Jaffery caught sight of her at the same time and gripped my arm. Her
eyes travelling from mine to his flashed indignant anger. Then she
turned haughtily. We tried to edge nearer her, but she was just beyond
the convergence of two side currents which pushed us even further away.
The gangway was fixed and the movement of the conglomerate mass began.
Presently Jaffery again seized my arm.

"There's the brute waiting for her."

And there on the quay, with a flower in his buttonhole and a smile on
his fat face, stood Mr. Ras Fendihook. He met her at the foot of the
gangway, and obviously told at once of our presence, sought us anxiously
with his gaze; then with an air of bravado waved his hat--a hard white
felt--and cried out: "Cheer O!" We did not respond. He grinned at us and
linking his arm through Liosha's joined the stream of passengers
hurrying across the stones to the custom-sheds.

"Stop," Jaffery roared.

They turned, as indeed did everybody within earshot. Fendihook would
have gone on, but Liosha very proudly drew him out of the stream into a
clear space and, prepared for battle, awaited us. When we had struggled
our slow way down and reached the quay she advanced a few steps looking
very terrible in her wrath.

"How dare you follow me?"

"Come further away from the crowd," said Jaffery, and with an imperious
gesture he swept the three of us along the quay to the stern of the
boat, where only a few idle sailor men were lounging, and a sergeant de
ville was pacing on his leisurely beat.

"I said you would make a fool of yourself one of these days if I didn't
play dragon," he said, at a sudden halt. "I've come to play dragon with
a vengeance." He marched on Fendihook. "Now you."

"How d'ye do, old cock? Didn't expect you here," he said jauntily.

"Don't be insolent," replied Jaffery in a remarkably quiet tone. "You
know very well why I'm here."

"Jaff Chayne--" Liosha began.

He waved her off. "Take her away, Hilary."

"Come," said I. "I'll tell you all about it."

"He has got to tell me, not you."

"I certainly don't know why the devil you're here," said Fendihook, with
sudden nastiness.

"I've come to save this lady from a dirty blackguard."

"How are you going to do it?"

Jaffery addressed Liosha. "You