hance, but not here where boats are two weeks apart. A cable to
Rangoon would shut off all drawing. He could have others made out. In
cash he may have a few hundreds."

"All gamblers are more or less yellow," sneered Mallow. "The streak in
you is pretty wide. I tell you, you needn't risk your skin. Are you
game to put one over that will cost him a lot of worry and trouble?"

"So long as I can stand outside the ropes and look on."

"He has a thousand pounds in his belt. No matter how I found out.
How'd you like to put your hand on it if you were sure it would not
burn your fingers?"

"I'd like to, all right. But it's got to be mighty certain. And the
belt must be handed to me by some one else. I've half a wonder if
you're not aiming to get rid of me," with an evil glance at his tempter.

"If I wanted to get rid of you, this'd be the way," said Mallow,
opening and shutting his powerful hands. "I'm just hungering for a bit
of a lark. Come on. A thousand pounds for taking a little rickshaw
ride. Ever hear of Wong's? Opium, pearls, oils and shark-fins?"

"No."

"Not many do. I know Singapore like the lines on my hands. Wong is
the shrewdest, most lawless Chinaman this side of Canton and Macao.
Pipes, pearls and shark-fins. Did you know that the bay out there is
so full of sharks that they have to stand on their tails for lack of
space? Big money. Wong's the man to go to. Want a schooner rigged
out for illicit shell-hunting? Want a man shanghaied? Want him
written down missing? Go to Wong."

"See here, Mallow; I don't mind his being beaten up; but what you say
doesn't sound good."

"You fool, I don't want him out of the way. Why should I? But there's
that thousand for you and worry for him. All aboard!"

"You don't love Parrot & Co. any more than I do."

"No. I'd sleep better o' nights if I knew he was broken for keeps.
Too much red-tape to put the United States after him. How'd you rig
him?"

"Faro and roulette. They never tumble. I didn't have anything against
him until he ran into me at Rangoon. But he's stepped in too many
times since. Is this straight?"

"About lifting his belt? Easy as falling off a log. Leave it to me.
His room is on the first gallery, facing southwest. You can chalk it
up as revenge. I'll take it on as a bit of good sport. Wong will fix
us out. Now look alive. It's after nine, and I'd like a little fun
first."

The two left the cafe-veranda and