The stars were out when they came to the beach where only a few days ago Kendric and Barlow had landed. And there, at anchor, rode the _Half Moon_. They saw her lights and they made out the hulk of her. Kendric shouted and fired his rifle. Almost immediately came an answering hail, the melodious voice of Nigger Ben. They saw a lantern go down over the side, they watched it bob and dance and made out presently that it was coming toward them. They heard Nigger Ben's voice, chanting monotonously, as he pulled at the oars of the small boat. "Howdy, Cap'n, howdy!" cried Ben joyously. He took in the small figure which had dismounted at Kendric's side and ducked his head and included her in his greetings with a "Howdy, Miss." And then, looking in vain for another member of the party: "Where's Cap'n Barlow?" "Let's get on board, Ben," answered Kendric. "I'll tell you there." So they stepped into the dingey and pushed off and rowed back to the _Half Moon_. "There's a gent here says he's a frien' of your'n, Cap," said Ben. "Ah dunno. Anyhows, he's been here all day an' we're watchin' he don't make no mischief." They went up over the side and Kendric showed Betty straightway to the cabin that was to be hers. Then he turned wonderingly to Ben. He could only think of Bruce, since it wasn't Barlow---- And Bruce it was. The boy came forth from the shadows, standing before Kendric looking at once dejected and defiant and shamefaced. "I was a damn' fool, Jim," he said bluntly. "Forget it, if you can, and take a passenger back to the States with you. Or tell me to go to hell--and I guess I'll tuck my tail between my legs and go." Kendric's hand went out impulsively and he cried with great heartiness: "Forget it, boy.--What about Barlow?" "Barlow's like a crazy man," said Bruce. He spoke quickly as though eager to get through with what he had to say. "After that cursed game of cards he got the same sort of a message I got; we were to wait, each in his own room, for--for her." He hesitated; Kendric understood that it hurt him even to refer to Zoraida. "We waited a long time. Then something happened which I know little about; I guess you know all of it. At any rate, when she burst in on us--we had gotten tired waiting and were in the _patio_--she, too, was like one gone mad. We had heard the shooting outside but when we started to run out some of her men threw guns on us and held us back. She came running in, terribly excited. When I tried to speak she cursed me, called me a fool, told me that she had never loved any but one man and that that man was--was you. Then she swore that she was going to see you dead and Betty Gordon dead with you. I guess I came to my senses a little at that." "And Barlow?" insisted Kendric. Bruce had paused, was staring off into the night, seemed to have forgotten to go on.