Stump’s knees shook imperceptibly while his thin claw-like fingers worked convulsively. His uncouth mind had not forgotten the matter. He had remembered it, lived with the remembrance every day of the thirty since leaving the Fijis; and had nursed his desire for revenge against his captain and benefactor. “Captain Scott, you hadn’t any call to do what you did,” he said doggedly. “Those people were my friends, and righteous people too. They believed the story I told ’em. They gave me human sympathy, and I was downright sorry I wasn’t what I said I was. I was afeared to tell them the truth. They took me to prayer-meetings and prayed for my soul and one of the young ladies begged me to go home to my old parents and be forgiven.” Captain Scott suddenly leaned back in his seat and roared with uncontrolled laughter. “You impious rascal!” he exclaimed. “Do you suppose I could permit you to impose upon my friends with any such tales? I picked you up in Shanghai, do you remember? You either had to go with me or to the consular jail for being too light fingered with other people’s money. You told me your parents were dead; and besides, that young lady was getting too sorry for you for both her good and yours.” Stump’s weasel eyes flashed angrily. “You might have split on me differently,” he said. “That girl’s accusing eyes hurt me every time I think of it.” Captain Scott stifled his merriment. “I’m really sorry, Stump,” he said. “You and I have been together a long time, and sometimes maybe I don’t understand you as I should. Sentiment is new to you. This trip is going to give us a rich haul, and I’m going to give you an extra hundred dollars just to square your injured vanity.” Captain Scott watched the lean figure as it ambled forward. He saw him herd together the score of black Solomon Islanders, brought to sell into slavery on the plantations of the Kapuan firm. After all had descended into the dark stuffy forehold, Stump, with the help of a couple of the Fiji crew, put on the hatch cover and locked it. The only air for the prisoners was admitted through two small ventilators in the deck. “Stump’s acting queerly this trip,” Captain Scott said thoughtfully to himself. “Appears to be considering jumping the game. It won’t do,” he exclaimed. “He knows too much about yours truly. Nice gratitude, I call it, after I saved him from a Chinese prison.” Stump walked aimlessly aft and leaned indolently against the rail. His face wore a frown. “What in blazes is the matter with you, anyway?” Captain Scott exclaimed. “Your face has been as long this trip as a Fiji widow’s. You know me well enough by this time to understand that sort of grump don’t go with me. If you don’t cultivate a little more pleasantry, I’ll have to dispense with your company, no matter how necessary it has been.”