r. In that tea, I am positive, was the hasheesh."

"You know all about it, don't you," snarled Captain Bryce, from his
chair, "'twas not hasheesh; 'twas an infusion of Indian hemp; you don't
know--" Mr. Austen's hand closed over his mouth and he subsided.

"Self-convicted," said Rowland, with a quiet laugh. "Hasheesh is made
from Indian hemp."

"You hear this, gentlemen," exclaimed Mr. Meyer, springing to his feet
and facing everybody in turn. He pounced on Captain Barry. "You hear
this confession, captain; you hear him say Indian hemp? I have a
witness now, Mr. Thompson. Go right on with your suit. You hear him,
Captain Barry. You are disinterested. You are a witness. You hear?"

"Yes, I heard it--the murdering scoundrel," said the captain.

Mr. Meyer danced up and down in his joy, while the attorney, pocketing
his notes, remarked to the discomfited Captain Bryce: "You are the
poorest fool I know," and left the office.

Then Mr. Meyer calmed himself, and facing the two steamship officers,
said, slowly and impressively, while he poked his forefinger almost into
their faces:

"England is a fine country, my friends--a fine country to leave pehind
sometimes. Dere is Canada, and der United States, and Australia, and
South Africa--all fine countries, too--fine countries to go to with new
names. My friends, you will be bulletined and listed at Lloyds in less
than half an hour, and you will never again sail under der English flag
as officers. And, my friends, let me say, that in half an hour after you
are bulletined, all Scotland Yard will be looking for you. But my door
is not locked."

Silently they arose, pale, shamefaced, and crushed, and went out the
door, through the outer office, and into the street.

CHAPTER XIII

Mr. Selfridge had begun to take an interest in the proceedings. As the
two men passed out he arose and asked:

"Have you reached a settlement, Mr. Meyer? Will the insurance be paid?"

"No," roared the underwriter, in the ear of the puzzled old gentleman;
while he slapped him vigorously on the back; "it will not be paid. You
or I must have been ruined, Mr. Selfridge, and it has settled on you. I
do not pay der _Titan's_ insurance--nor will der other insurers. On der
contrary, as der collision clause in der policy is void with der rest,
your company must reimburse me for der insurance which I must pay to der
_Royal Age_ owners--that is, unless our good friend here, Mr. Rowland,
who was on der lo