“The better the day, the better the deed.  I must have the petrol; I must start in two hours or less.  And I should like a good bath and a breakfast first.”

“You shall have both, but surely you can wait till daylight.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.  It is very awkward, I admit, and I fear I shall give you and several others a lot of trouble; but needs must when the devil drives, as they say, and the devil in this case is Father Time.  You see, I’ve not only got to take some rifles and ammunition to the shipwrecked party, but I must rejoin my ship by Friday morning, or there’ll be ructions.  I’ve got a name for overstepping the limit, and my captain warned me that I’d better rejoin promptly this time.”

“We mustn’t hinder him, Jack,” said Mrs. Daventry.

“But, hang it all, Mary, do you understand what it means?  He’ll kill himself, rushing round the world like this.”

“Not at all; I’m pretty tough,” said Smith.  “Now, old fellow, what is the best you can do for me?”

“Go and get your things on, Jack,” said Mrs. Daventry practically.  “You can take Mr. Smith down to the harbour and get what he wants.  I’ll see about the bath and the breakfast, and I am sure Miss Bunce will help; I won’t disturb the servants.  Really, it is quite exciting.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Daventry.  It is very good of you.  But I’m sure Miss Bunce ought to go to sleep.”

“I am not a bit sleepy,” said the girl, “and I shall certainly help Mrs. Daventry.”

“Come along then, my dear,” said the hostess.  “We will go and see to things at once.”

In five minutes Mr. Daventry was down.  He and Smith left the house and made their way rapidly to the harbour.  The port officer complained at having his beauty sleep disturbed, and when he learnt that his assistance was wanted for a burning ship near the Andamans he declared that he wished wireless had never been invented.

“People know too much nowadays,” he grumbled.  “They’ll know what we think before we think it next.”

“Don’t undeceive him,” whispered Smith to Daventry, anxious to escape the necessity of lengthy explanations.  The port officer agreed to send a steamer in search of the Elizabeth as soon as it was light.  Then, without losing a minute, Daventry led Smith to the house of Mr. Van Kloof, of whom the petrol had been ordered.

“He’s a bit of a slow-coach,” said Daventry, “and will want to know all about it, so I advise you to tell him everything; or better still, leave it to me.”

“Very well.  Anything to save time.”

Mr. Van Kloof was hard to awaken.  When he was at last aroused by his servants, he put his head out of his bedroom window, and demanded gruffly what was the matter.

“Come down, Van Kloof, and I’ll explain.  It’s a matter of life or death,” said Daventry.

“Vat is it?  An earthquake?”

“Worse than that.  Slip into your breeches, man.”