Finally it seemed to him that the best thing was to wait until the critical moment had arrived. He could warn the captain just in time--or if absolutely necessary he could warn McTee, who would certainly believe him. In the meantime there were possibilities that the mutiny would come to nothing through internal dissension among the crew. In any case he must play a detestable part, acting as a spy upon the crew and pretending enthusiasm for the mutiny. With that shame like a taste of soot in his throat, he climbed to the bridge the next morning with his bucket of suds and his brush, and there as usual he found McTee, cool and clean in the white outfit of Henshaw. At sight of the Scotchman he remembered at once that he must pretend the double exhaustion which comes of pain and hard labor. Therefore he thrust out his lower jaw and favored McTee with a glare of hate. He was repaid by the glow of content which showed in the captain's face. "And the hole of the _Heron_," he said, speaking softly lest his voice should carry to the man in the wheelhouse, "is it cooler than the fireroom of the _Mary Rogers?_" Harrigan glanced up, glowering. "Damn you, McTee!" "The palms of your hands, lad, are they raw? Is the lye of the suds cool to them?" Another black glance came in reply and McTee leaned back against the rail, tapping one contented toe against the floor. "It was a fine tale you told me yesterday, Harrigan," he said at length, "but afterward I saw Kate, and she was never kinder. I spoke of you, and we laughed together about it. She said you were like a horse that's too proud--you need the whip!" Harrigan was in doubt, but he concealed his trouble with a mighty effort and smiled. "That's a weak lie, Angus. When I was a boy of ten, I would of hung me head for shame if I could not have made a better lie. Shall I tell you what really happened when you met Kate? You came up smilin' an' grinnin' like a baboon, an' she passed you by with a look that went through you as if you were just a cloud on the edge of the sky. Am I right, McTee?" "You've seen her, and she's told you this," exclaimed the captain. Harrigan chuckled his triumph and went on with the scrubbing of the bridge. "No, Angus, me dear, I've not seen her, but when two souls are as close as hers and mine--well, cap'n, I leave it to you!" McTee ground his teeth with rage and turned his back on the worker for a moment until he could master the contorted muscles of his face. "Tut, McTee," went on the Irishman, "you've but felt the tickle of the spur; when I drive it in, you'll yell like a whipped kid. Always you play into me hands, McTee. Now when you see Kate, you'll feel me grin in the background mockin' ye, eh?"