y was the
order, or the alternative for Peter was the irons.

When the fat fingers of Mynheer the Captain at length dabbled in the
lacquered finger-bowl, after rounding out his fourth pomelo, Peter got
up slowly and walked thoughtfully to the foot of the staircase. Here
the captain caught up with him, touched his elbow lightly, and together
they proceeded to the promenade-deck, which was shining redly in places
where the wetness of the washing down had not yet been evaporated by
the warm, fresh wind.

Mynheer the Captain fell into place at Peter's side, gripped his fat
Javanese cigar between his teeth, and caught his fat wrists together
stolidly behind his back, and his low, wide brow slowly beetled.

"Mynheer," he began in a somewhat constrained voice, low and richly
guttural, "it iss known to you vat took place on der ship some dam
during der nacht? Ja?"

"I overheard the passengers talking about a coolie falling overboard
last night, sir," replied Peter guardedly. As long as no direct
accusation came, he felt safer. He was reasonably sure, basing his
opinion of skippers on many past encounters, that this one would go
typically to his subject. In his growing cock-sureness, Peter expected
no rapier-play. It would be a case, he felt sure, of all the cards on
the table at once; a slam-bang, as it were.

"You know nodding of dot business, young man?"

"Nothing at all, Myn Captain."

"Dot iss strange. Dot iss strange," muttered the captain as they
rounded the forward cabin and made their way in slow, measured strides
down the port side. "I haf seen you come aboard yesterday, mynheer;
und I haf seen you t'row over der side a coolie, a coolie who wass wit'
der coolie who dis'ppeared last nacht. Why did you t'row him over der
side, eh?"

"He threatened me with his knife," replied Peter without an instant's
hesitation. "_Mynheer_, he was a bad Chink, a killer."

"_Ja_. _Tot ver vlomme_! All of 'em are bad Chinks."

"Why should he stab me?" intoned Peter. "I never saw him before. I am
a peaceful citizen. The only interest I have on this ship, Mynheer
Captain, is the wireless apparatus."

"_Ja_? Dot iss gude to hear, young man. I haf liked you--how does one
say it?--immensely. Der oder man wass no gude. He is gude rittance.
You intend to stay wit' us. Ja?"

"I hope so," said Peter heartily and with vast relief.

"You like dis ship, eh?"

"Very much, indeed."

"And I vant you to stay, young