"Right-o, Tammas! But wait. I'll go you one better. You can write your
note and give it out that you've shifted to another ship. But you'll
stay aboard with us, under cover. Of all the steamers that touch at
Aden, one will soon come along with parties whom either she or I know.
Then off she goes to the tight little island, and we follow after in
our little tramp or on another liner. Hey, Tammas?"

"Well, I don't know," hesitated Blake. "It sounds all right."

"It _is_ all right," insisted the younger man. "You'll be aboard
the same steamer with her as far as Aden, to keep an eye on me,
y'know."

"On you?"

"You'd better. My word, Tom! don't you realize? If you--er--put it
off, I'm bound to try for myself. Can't help it!"

"Think you've got a show, do you?" rallied Blake.

"I fancied I had as much chance as any one, before all this occurred.
I at least should have been in the running, had it not been for the
wreck--and you."

Blake stood for several moments, with his head down-bent and eyes
fixed upon the ground. When he looked up and spoke, his face was grave
and his voice deep and low.

"It's all of a piece, Jimmy. I don't blame you. Fact is, it's all the
better. I've had all the advantage here. She and I've been living in