communicate itself to his listeners. Their eyes kindled and the
keen joy that gallant men always feel in the anticipation of
conflict flushed their faces.

"I am a son of Leonidas," said George Stefanopolous, proudly.
And he secreted not merely one, but two, of Cleggett's daggers
about his body, in addition to the revolver given him. As George
had already possessed a dagger or two and an automatic pistol, it
was now almost impossible for him to lay his hand casually on any
part of his person without its coming into contact with a deadly
weapon ready for instant use. Cap'n Abernethy picked up a
cutlass, "hefted" it thoughtfully, rolled his sleeve back upon a
lean and sinewy old arm that was tanned until it looked like a
piece of weathered oak, spat upon his hand and whirled the weapon
till it whistled in the air. "I come of a seafarin' fambly,"
said the Cap'n, sententiously.

As for Kuroki, he said nothing. He was not given to speech at
any time. But he picked up a Malay kris and ran his thumb along
the edge of it critically like a man to whom such a weapon is not
altogether unfamiliar. A pleased smile stole over his face; he
handled the wicked knife almost affectionately; he put it down
with a little loving pat.

"Brave boys," murmured Cleggett, as he watched them. He smiled,
but at the same time something like a tear blurred his eloquent
and magnetic eye for a moment. "Brave boys," he murmured, "we
were made for each other!"

The display of the American flag by the Jasper B. had an effect