The detective made his last stroke.

“I can take the law into my own hands and chance the consequences.  The Consul will supply me with a force—­”

Robertson smiled grimly, and pointed to the rack of Snider rifles around the mizen-mast at the head of the table.

“You and your force will have a bad time of it then, and be shot down before you can put foot on my deck.  I’ve never seen a shark eat a policeman, but there seems a chance of it now.”

O’Donovan laughed uneasily, then he changed his tactics.

“Now look here, gentlemen,” he said confidentially, leaning across the table, “I can see I’m in a bit of a hole, but I’m a business man, and you are business men, and I think we understand one another, eh?  As you say, my warrant doesn’t hold good here in Samoa.  But the Consul will back me up, and if I can take this chap back to New Zealand it means a big thing for me.  Now, what’s your figure?”

“Two hundred each for the skipper and myself,” answered Otway promptly.

“Done.  You shall have it.”

“When?”

“Give me till to-morrow afternoon.  I’ve only a hundred and fifty pounds with me, and I’ll have to raise the rest.”

“Very well, it’s a deal.  But mind, you’ll have to take care to be here before the parson.  He’s coming off at eleven o’clock.”

“Trust me for that, gentlemen.”

“I’m sorry for his wife,” said Otway meditatively.

O’Donovan grinned.  “Ah, I haven’t told you the yarn—­she’s not his wife!  She bolted from her husband, who is a big swell in Auckland, a Mr.——.”

“How did you get on their tracks?”

“Sydney police found out that two people answering their description had sailed for the Islands in the Tucopia, and cabled over to us.  We thought they had lit out for America.  I only got here the day before yesterday in the Ryno, from Auckland.”

Otway paid him some very florid compliments on his smartness, and then after another drink or two, the detective went on shore, highly pleased.

As soon as he was gone, Otway turned to Robertson.

“You won’t stand in my way, Robertson, will you?” he asked—­“I want to see the poor devils get away.”

“You take all the responsibility, then.”

“I will,” and then he rapidly told the skipper his plan, and set to work by at once asking the second mate to get ready the boat and then come back to the cabin.

“All ready,” said Allen, five minutes later.

“Then come with the steward and help me with this gear.”

He unlocked the door of Lacy’s state-room, lit the swinging candle, and quickly passed out Mr. and Mrs. Lacy’s remaining luggage to the second mate and steward.  Three small leather trunks, marked “Books with Care,” were especially heavy, and he guessed their contents.

“Stow them safely in the boat, Allen.  Don’t make more noise than you can help.  I’ll be with you in a minute.”