"Your second mate has not visited Massowah before?" she said.

"No, ma'am."

"We shall be ashore first, after all. He is heading for the Government
jetee, where a sentry will warn him off."

"Oh, you know the ropes here, then?" said Stump. "Not many English
ladies have coasted in these waters."

Mrs. Haxton thought, perhaps, that she had aired her knowledge
unnecessarily, but she explained that when her husband was alive she
had accompanied him during a long cruise in the Red Sea. "He was
interested in cable construction," she said, "and we visited Massowah
when it was first taken In hand by the Italians."

"Excuse me, ma'am, but have you bin long a widdy?"

"Nearly five years."

"By gad," said Stump admiringly, "you must ha' bin a small slip of a
gal when you was married!"

She laughed, with the quiet assurance of a beautiful and well-dressed
woman. Mrs. Haxton could be charming when she chose, and she wanted
Stump to act exactly in accord with her own plans when they reached the
town. By this time the two boats were nearly level, but separated by a
hundred yards or more. The captain had half risen to hail Dick when
Mrs. Haxton stopped him.