"We are--only worse. But it would be madness to warn Henshaw now. He is unnerved--almost insane. His granddaughter, for whom he had made all his fortune and to whom he is going in the States--" "Yes, Salvain told me. She is dying; it is pitiful, Angus, but--" "He must not be told. He would start with the hand of iron, and the first act of violence which he committed would be the touch of fire which would set off this powder magazine. No, we must wait. Perhaps in a little time I may be able to win over one of the mutineers and from him learn all their plans, and then turn the tables on them. But I must first know all the men who are concerned in the uprising. When we _do_ move--shall I spare Harrigan, Kate?" He tried to ask it frankly, but a devil of malice was in his eyes. "I don't know--I can't think! Angus, what did Dan mean?" "I warned you of what he was capable," he said. She caught his hands, stammering: "You are all that is left to me. You will stand between me and danger, Angus? You will protect me? But wait! I could go to Harrigan. I _know_ that if I plead with him, I can win him away from the mutineers!" "Kate, you are hysterical! Don't you see that a man who is capable of planning a wholesale murder in the night would be quite able to lie to you? No, no! Whatever you do, you must promise me not to speak a word of this to anyone, most of all, to Harrigan." "I will promise anything--I will do anything. It all rests with you, Angus." "And when we strike at the mutineers--if Harrigan falls, will you absolve me of his death, Kate?" She was terribly moved, standing stiff and straight and helpless like a child about to be punished. "Angus, for the sake of pity, do not ask me." "I must know." "Angus," came her broken voice, "I _cannot_ give up my faith in him." His face grew as dark as night, but he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and said: "Your mind is distraught. You shall have time to think this over; but remember, Kate, we must fight fire with fire, and the time has come when you must choose between us." And then, very wisely, he slipped from the room. CHAPTER 26 On the promenade outside he met Sloan, the wireless operator, on his way to Captain Henshaw's cabin with a slip of paper in his hand. Sloan winked at him broadly. "The good news has come, sir," he grinned. "Take a look at this!" And McTee eagerly read the typewritten slip. _Beatrice is rallying. Doctors have decided effusion of blood was not hemorrhage. Opinion now very hopeful._ "Will that bring the old boy around for a while?" asked Sloan. "He'll slip you a twenty on the strength of that and give you a drink as well," said McTee.