"I'll give you as much as the bank offers," said Mr. Botayne.

"Very sorry, sir; but can't," replied the detective. "We'd be just as
bad then in the eyes of the law as before. Reward, five thousand, bank
lose twenty-five thousand--thirty thousand, in odd figures, is least we
could take. Even _that_ wouldn't be reg'lar; but it would be a safe
risk, seeing all the bank cares for's to get its money back."

Mr. Botayne groaned.

"We'll make it as pleasant as we can for you, sir," continued the
detective, "if you and the lady'll go back on the ship with us. We'll
give him the liberty of the ship as soon as we're well away from land.
We'd consider it our duty to watch him, of course; but we'd try to do it
so's not to give offense--we've _got_ hearts, though we _are_ in this
business. Hope you can buy him clear when you get home, sir?"

"I've sacrificed everything to get here--I can never clear him," sighed
Mr Botayne.

"_I_ can!" exclaimed a clear, manly voice.

Millicent raised her eyes, and for the first time saw Jim Hockson.

She gave him a look in which astonishment, gratitude and fear strove for
the mastery, and he gave her a straightforward, honest, respectful look
in return.

The two detectives dropped their lower jaws alarmingly, and raised their
eyebrows to their hat-rims.