tip, Tagg, that other woman, Mrs. Haxton, is as mean as, sin, an' she
blew the gaff to-night when she dropped on 'em after supper."

"I've always thought her a bit of a cat," agreed Tagg.

"An' wot did you say?"

"Say, I tole 'im to do his dirty work hisself. Mark my words, Tagg,
he'll not tackle the job for fear it comes to the gal's ears. You watch
him close up like an oyster."

Stump was a prophet worthy of honor, though Dick did not appreciate the
Baron's friendly solicitude about his affairs until long afterwards.
But he did learn by chance how amply justified Irene was in her fear
that he might be asked to leave the ship. The _Aphrodite_ was spinning
down the Gulf of Suez late next day, under all her snowy spread of
sail, when Royson went aloft to assure himself that a stiff pulley on
the fore yard was in good working order. He found that it needed a
slight readjustment, and the alteration, was troublesome owing to the
strain of a steady breeze. He persevered, put matters right, and was
climbing down to the deck when, through the foresail, he heard voices
discussing none other than himself.

Mrs. Haxton and von Kerber had strolled, forward, and were leaning over
the side of the ship, never dreaming that the man they were talking of
was within a few feet of them above their heads, though hidden by the
sail.

"I was exceedingly surprised to find that he was not sent ashore with
the pilot at Suez," the lady was saying. "No matter what his present