"Yes, I am very glad; and so is Tolai. You see we are going to our own land, where it is warm and sunny and beautiful--far, far away from these grey mists." "Well, I guess mists ain't bad at times," struck in Captain Jacob, who was going over the breakfast-table like a locust; "you grow darned tired of a blazin' sun and a sky like a fiery furnace!" "Oh, you're there, are you, captain?" said Chard, who noted him for the first time. "Got any more cyphers for me to read?" "Guess I bested you that trip, sonny." "You did; but you won't best me again in a hurry. I know that cypher now." "Oh, you won't see me writin' it again, matey! I'm bound for the Islands; and I surmise I'll hum when the barky lifts the Southern Cross. Take the ague out of my bones anyhow. "Well, if you ask me, I think you are best on the other side of the world," said the inspector, dryly; "the law here ain't just the thing for people of your sort, captain." "Hullo, matey, what's the jaw?" "I'm mindful of your attempt to blackmail Mr. Johnson." "Oh, don't bother about that; that's all square; the parson's made it up with me. Arter all it was only business. I wanted that money for our ship's stores, and I had to trade some'ow." "You may consider yourself lucky Mr. Johnson did not prosecute you." "Oh! he wouldn't be such a mean white as that," grinned the skipper, winking his one eye; "he's a straight cuss, he is; there ain't much wrong with 'im as I can see." Half annoyed and amazed at the old salt's rascality, the inspector turned away. He was promptly buttonholed by Carwell. "See here, Mr. Inspector; have you caught that blackguard Brand?" "No, I have not; nor Pharaoh Lee either, for that matter. Where the pair of them have got to, beats me." Captain Jacob chuckled. He knew very well where one of them was, but he had no intention of gratifying Mr. Inspector Chard's curiosity. To have done that would have been to risk a lively storm with his first mate; and the artful Shackel was counting far too much on Jack's influence at Koiau, to run any risks of that kind. But Carwell paid no attention to Jacob's chuckle. His mind was busy with many thoughts, and he continued his conversation with the inspector. "It is a great disgrace to Bethgamul," he said dejectedly, "a very great disgrace. We believed in the man; we called him brother; we thought he was good. But he has poured dust on our heads." "But remember, sir, what your pastor overheard him say--that he wished to kill Tera in order that Niga might force his people to become Christians." "So far he was misled, Mr. Inspector. Two wrongs do not make a right, and it is not the custom of our congregation to spread the Word by means of murder. He killed Zara in mistake for Tera, I know; but his intention was to do evil that good might come of it--a very wrong intention." "Well, if I catch him, he'll pay for his experiment." "You know now that Mayne's not guilty, of course."