"So have I," answered Prelice, "loaded in all six chambers. But you need make no mistake, Brisson. I intend to stop here, and see the game out to the end. Captain Jadby and I have to settle accounts." "What sort of accounts?" "Well, Jadby is kidnapping the lady to whom I am engaged. You can't expect me to stand that?" "I guess not," assented Brisson agreeably. "I'm hitched up with a girl of spirit myself, and if anyone dare to----" He clenched his huge fist, looking pistols and daggers and Maxim guns. "That's the proper spirit, Brisson. By the way," Prelice got out a cigarette, "you might tell me how much you know of this business." "Very little, I reckon," answered the captain, more and more puzzled by the young man's coolness. "Jadby and Madame came to London some months ago, and she started the fortune-telling racket, while he went to see his uncle. I anchored the boat in Thames River, and went a loaf round the coast at times to keep the barky in trim. Then the other day Madame sends a message that I'm to bring the _Kanaro_ round here, which I have done. Now I'm waiting for further orders." "When Jadby comes on board with Miss Chent?" Brisson nodded. "But I don't take any orders from any son of a sea-cook, you can bet your boots. Madame's owner, and she wants to run in double harness with Jadby, rum though her taste may be. If he's skipping with a girl, that's Madame's lookout. I don't sail until she gives the office." Prelice nodded his approval. "In that case, Jadby will get left," he remarked coolly, "for he's trying to play low down on Madame Marie. By the way, if you know so little of the game, why detain me?" "Well," said Brisson, scratching his head, "Madame visited the yacht at times when we were swinging off Gravesend. She told me there was some trouble over these murders----" "You know about them?" "Only what I read in the papers. But Madame said that you were taking a hand in the meddling way, and that she'd like to keep you out of the whole business. As I like Madame--who is a dandy fine woman with a temper--I put you in quod the moment I heard your name. You must stop here, my lord, until Madame comes on board." "You have acted in a somewhat high-handed manner, and without any instructions to go upon," said Prelice calmly. "If I wanted to make a row I could." "Not in this ship," growled Brisson. "Oh, I think so. Yonder is the port-hole, and there isn't very much distance between this boat and the shore. Also, there are other steamers lying at anchor close at hand. Not to speak of my boatman having been in a position to be spoken to from the port-hole. I could fire a shot or two and rouse the harbour, and I could have hailed my boatman before you sent him away. I did none of these things. And why? Because I am in the very position I wish to be in. Jadby is coming on board, and I want to meet Jadby." "And to rescue the girl."