moment's action or the next."

"Where could we wed?" asked Virginia.

"The Ithaca would bear us to Singapore, and when we
returned you would be under my legal protection and safe."

"I shall think about it from every angle," she answered
sadly, "and now good night, my dear friend," and with a
wan smile she entered her quarters.

For the next month Professor Maxon was busy educating
Number Thirteen. He found the young man intelligent
far beyond his most sanguine hopes, so that the
progress made was little short of uncanny.

Von Horn during this time continued to urge upon
Virginia the necessity for a prompt and favorable
decision in the matter of his proposal; but when it
came time to face the issue squarely the girl found it
impossible to accede to his request--she thought that
she loved him, but somehow she dared not say the word
that would make her his for life.

Bududreen, the Malay mate was equally harassed by
conflicting desires, though of a different nature,
or he had his eye upon the main chance that was
represented to him by the great chest, and also upon
the lesser reward which awaited him upon delivery of
the girl to Rajah Muda Saffir. The fact that he could