it?--bought at the price of crime."

"Mr. Brown, you can do it, and it is not only your salvation, but also
mine.--I am far from planning to sacrifice the half million for which
the 'St. George' is insured on account of any evasion on your part.
The half million will suffice to pay our debts and give us enough to
live on for awhile. After your brother had the good grace to die just
at the right time--"

"Do not speak to me of his death. As time goes on I become more and
more convinced, Redfox, that you had a hand in his death."

"Your brother died a natural death," said the first officer with a
lowering look; "and even if that were not the case, the most of the
suspicion would fall on you instead of me. And so surely as I stand
here, I swear to you, that if you upset my plan I'll manage matters
so you'll be condemned as the murderer of your brother. Since
his death nothing stands in our way except this boy. Now, if he
should--accidentally--follow in the footsteps of his father, he would
surely go to heaven, that is, if what the priests teach is true. If he
does not die now in the days of his innocence, ten chances to one, he
will grow up to be as reckless and worthless as ourselves. It would be
the greatest luck imaginable for him, if now--by chance, of course,--he
were to make his journey to heaven."

"True, most true. I wish that I had died when I was his age," groaned
the Captain.

"You leave all with me. The boy is on board. That is enough--"

CHAPTER IV.

With the Priest of the God of the Golden Fish.

On the south side of the island of Hongkong are a number of small
villages occupied by fishermen. Any one of these hidden away under the
shade of the great bamboos may be taken as a type of all the others.
The little houses have roofs made of reeds and bundles of twigs, but
these do not serve so well for protection from wind and weather as the
thick foliage of the overhanging trees. On the beach fishing nets are
spread to dry; and in the calm waters of the little bay a number of
poor old junks ride lazily at anchor. One of these is drawn up on the
shore and the men are examining the haul of fish just brought in.
Women and children with baskets and buckets are hurrying down to the
beach to do their part in the work of sorting. The large shining blue
fishes with bands of blue and rose-red and the yellow ones with spots
of red and green they pack in small baskets between rows of green
leav