Bethune smiled. "A seaman who tells the truth about anything startling that happens on board a passenger boat gets fired. The convention is to wrap the thing in mystery, if it can't be denied. Besides, the ability to take what you might call a quick, bird's-eye view isn't a British gift; an Englishman would have concentrated on some particular point. Anyhow, I can't see how the boat came to be where she was at the time mentioned." He turned to Dick and asked: "Do you know, Brandon?" "No," said Dick, shortly, "not altogether." "Well," resumed Bethune, "I've seen the antiquated gunboat that came to the rescue, and it's amusing to think of her steaming up to the big auxiliary cruiser. It's doubtful if they've got ammunition that would go off in their footy little guns, though I expect the gang of half-breed cut-throats would put up a good fight. They have pluck enough, and the country they belong to can stand upon her dignity." "She knows where to look for support," Stuyvesant remarked. "If the other party goes much farther, she'll get a sharp snub up. What's your idea of the situation?" "Something like yours. We can't allow the black eagle to find an eyrie in this part of the world, but just now our Western bird's talons are blunt. She hasn't been rending the innocents like the other, but one or two of our former leaders are anxious to put her into fighting trim, and I dare say something of the kind will be done. However, Brandon hasn't taken much part in this conversation. I guess he's thinking about his work!" Dick, who had been sitting quiet with a thoughtful face, got up. "I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, Stuyvesant." "Very well," said the other, who turned to Bethune and Jake. "I don't want to play the domineering boss, but we're not paid to sit here and fix up international politics." They went away and Stuyvesant looked at Dick who said, "I ought to start in the launch to-morrow to get the laborers you want, but I can't go." "Why?" Dick hesitated. "The fact is I've something else to do." "Ah!" said Stuyvesant. "I think the understanding was that Fuller bought all your time." "He did. I'm sorry, but----" "But if I insist on your going down the coast, you'll break your agreement." "Yes," said Dick with embarrassment. "It comes to that." Stuyvesant looked hard at him. "You must recognize that this is a pretty good job, and you're not likely to get another without Fuller's recommendation. Then I understand you were up against it badly when he first got hold of you. You're young and ought to be ambitious, and you have your chance to make your mark right here." "It's all true," Dick answered doggedly. "Still, I can't go." "Then it must be something very important that makes you willing to throw up your job." Dick did not answer and, to his surprise, Stuyvesant smiled as he resumed: "It's England first, with you?" "How did you guess? How much do you know?" Dick asked sharply.