looking for "suckers?"

Was it possible he had been sent there to inveigle them into the party,
so that some sharp might "skin" them? It did not seem improbable.

Harry seemed to catch onto the same idea, for he popped up in his bunk
suddenly, but a sudden roll of the steamer caused him to sink down again
with a groan.

Diamond's eyes began to glitter. He, too, fancied he saw the little
game.

"No," said Merry, slowly, "he did not invite any of us to come in."

The little man seemed relieved.

"I--I didn't know," he faltered. "If he had--I--I was going to say
something. Perhaps it is not--necessary."

"Perhaps not," said Frank; "but it may not do any hurt to say it."

"And it may do some hurt--to you," muttered Diamond under his breath. "I
will kick this fellow!"

But, to the surprise of all, the superstitious man cackled out a short,
broken laugh, and said:

"Oh, I was going to--to warn you--that's all. It--it's liable to be a
pretty--stiff game. I thought it would be a--good thing for you to--keep
out of it. It started--light, but it's working--up--right along. Almost