He took a sheet of paper, and hurriedly wrote in pencil: 

“DEAR LACY,—­Don’t hesitate to follow my instructions.  There’s a man here from New Zealand.  Tried to get access to your cabin; bluffed him.  You and your wife must follow bearer of this note to his boat, which will bring you to a schooner.  The captain’s name is Revels.  He expects you, and you can trust him.  Have pledged him my word that you will give him L500 to land you at Manila or thereabouts; also that you will hand it to him as soon as the schooner is clear of the land. All your luggage is on board the schooner, awaiting you.  Allen helped me.  You might send him a present by Revels.  Goodbye, and all good luck.  One last word—­be quick, be quick!”

“Boat is ready,” said Revels.

“Right,” and Otway closed the letter and handed it to the mate.  “Here you are, Le Brun.  Now, listen.  Pull in to the mouth of the creek at the French Mission, just beside the bridge.  Leave your boat there and then take this letter to D’Acosta’s Hotel and ask to see Mr. Lacy.  If he and his wife have gone out for a walk, you must follow them and give him the letter; but I feel pretty sure you’ll find them on the verandah.  Bring them off on board as quickly and as quietly as possible.  No one will take any notice of the boat in the creek.  Oh! and tell Mr. Lacy to be dead sure not to bring anything in the way of even a small bag with him—­Joe D’Acosta might wonder.  I’ll settle the hotel bill later on.  Are you clear?”

“Clear as mud,” replied Le Brun, a big, black-whiskered Guernsey man.

“Then goodbye.”

The schooner’s boat, manned by two hands only, pushed off, and then Revels turned to Otway.

“Shall I heave short so as to be ready?”

“Heave short, be d——­d!” replied Otway testily.  “No, just lie nice and quiet, and as soon as you have your passengers on board slip your cable.  I’ll see that your anchor is fished up for you.  And even if you lost your anchor and a few fathoms of chain it doesn’t matter against five hundred sovereigns.  The people on shore would be sure to hear the sound of the windlass pawls, and there’s a man here from Auckland—­a detective—­who might make a bold stroke, get a dozen native bullies and collar you.  So slip, my boy, slip.  There’s a fine healthy breeze which will take you clear of the reef in ten minutes.”

The two men shook hands, and Otway stepped into his boat, which he steered in towards the principal jetty.

Jumping out he walked along the roadway which led from Matafele to Apia.  As he passed the British Consul’s house he saw Mr. O’Donovan standing on the verandah talking to the Consul.  He waved his hand to them, and cheerfully invited the detective to come along to “Johnnie Hall’s” and play a game of billiards.

Mr. O’Donovan, little thinking that Otway had a purpose in view, took the bait.  The Consul knew Otway, and, in a measure, dreaded him, for the supercargo’s knowledge of certain transactions in connection with the sale of arms to natives, in which he (the Consul) had taken a leading and lucrative part.  So when he saw the supercargo of the Tucopia beckoning to O’Donovan he smiled genially at him, and hurriedly told the detective to go.