red his throat.
"Now, sir, needs must I come with unpleasant news, and sorry I am to
bring it. I have heard that the _Venture_ plans to sail at any time,
and you well know she is a fast-sailing ship." He folded his plump
hands over his paunch and twiddled his thumbs with agitation. "Sir, it
has been noised about that the _Venture_ is headed for the West
Indies."

He paused and glanced at Mr. Finney who nodded forlornly, his mouth
drooping.

"But 'tis not so." The Captain looked with anxious eyes at Mr. Wicker.
"Early this morning Ned Cilley brought me the information that the
_Venture_ is to sail to the China seas."

Mr. Wicker's face was grave but showed no surprise. "I knew some
trouble was ahead," he said slowly, "but did not know what form it was
to take." He paused. "News of sailings and destinations get about so
rapidly, it is more than likely that someone overheard the destination
of the _Mirabelle_, and sold his knowledge to Captain Chew. Although,"
he added thoughtfully, "I think Claggett Chew guessed it. Well," and
Mr. Wicker looked alertly at the two men, "what advice do you give
me?"

Captain Blizzard wagged his head. "Nay sir, 'tis for orders that I
came to you. It is for you to say."

"How soon can the _Mirabelle_ put to sea?" Mr. Wicker asked, and
Chris's heart skipped a beat.

"At any time, sir," the Captain at once replied. "We have nearly water
enough, and quite sufficient stores. The men are all assembled."

The Captain fell silent and no one spoke for several minutes. Mr.
Wicker leaning his chin on his folded hands was lost in thought.

"How move the tides?" he finally asked, raising his head.

The Captain, with surprising briskness for so large a man, pulled some
folded charts from his pocket. Without a word the three men rose and
went over to the table, pushing aside the china bowl filled with
flowers to spread the charts flat on the table top. Captain Blizzard
leaned his knuckles on the boards.

"The tide will be high at midnight, sir," he informed them. "See"--he
pointed a short forefinger at a spot on one chart--"here is the
sandbar that the tide covers for but a short time, and should there be
other ships crowding the river near this point, we must slip through
there then or not at all."

Mr. Wicker examined the charts and nodded. "Very well," he said, "so
must it be," and Chris felt that his heartbeat would stifle him, it
pounded so fast and thickly in his throat. All at once, l