bottom of his heart, he knew to be in every way, except upon
the roster of the Halfmoon, his superior; but money can work
wonders, and Divine's promise that the officers and crew of
the Halfmoon would have a cool million United States dollars
to divide among them in case of the success of the venture
had quite effectually overcome any dislike which Mr. Ward
had felt for this particular phase of his duty.

The two officers sat in silence in their room at the hotel
awaiting an answer to the note they had dispatched to Anthony
Harding, Esq. The parts they were to act had been
carefully rehearsed on board the Halfmoon many times. Each
was occupied with his own thoughts, and as they had nothing
in common outside the present rascality that had brought
them together, and as that subject was one not well to discuss
more than necessary, there seemed no call for conversation.

On board the yacht in the harbor preparations were being
made to land a small party that contemplated a motor trip up
the Nuuanu Valley when a small boat drew alongside, and a
messenger from the hotel handed a sealed note to one of the
sailors.

From the deck of the Halfmoon Skipper Simms witnessed
the transaction, smiling inwardly. Billy Byrne also saw it, but
it meant nothing to him. He had been lolling upon the deck
of the brigantine glaring at the yacht Lotus, hating her and
the gay, well-dressed men and women he could see laughing
and chatting upon her deck. They represented to him the
concentrated essence of all that was pusillanimous, disgusting,