‘Sir,’ said the captain, ’I appreciate your kindness, and I value your gift as a memorial of one of the most singular experiences in a seafaring life.  I drink your health and your friend’s.  Mr. Logan, to you.’  The captain pledged his guests.

‘And now, gentlemen, what am I to do?’

‘That, captain, is for your own consideration.’

‘I’ll carpet that lubber, Jenkins,’ said the captain, and leaving the cabin, he returned with the Fellow of All Souls.  His shirt front was ruffled, his white neckcloth awry, his pallid countenance betrayed a sensitive second-rate mind, not at unity with itself.  He nodded sullenly to Logan:  Bude he did not know.

‘Professor Jenkins, Mr. Jones Harvey,’ said the captain.  ’Sit down, sir.  Take a drink; you seem to need one.’  Jenkins drained the tumbler, and sat with downcast eyes, his finger drumming nervously on the table.

’Professor Jenkins, sir, I reckon you are the cause of the unparalleled disaster to this exploring expedition.  Why did you bring these two natives of our territory on board, you well and duly knowing that the end would not justify the proceedings?’ A furtive glance from Jenkins lighted on the diamonds that sparkled in Logan’s ring.  He caught Logan’s hand.

‘Traitor!’ he cried.  ’What will not scientific jealousy dare, that meanest of the passions!’

‘What the devil do you mean?’ said Logan angrily, wrenching his hand away.

‘You leave Mr. Logan alone, sir,’ said the captain.  ’I have two minds to put you in irons, Mr. Professor Jenkins.  If you please, explain yourself.’

‘I denounce this man and his companion,’ said Jenkins, noticing a pearl ring on Bude’s finger; ’I denounce them of conspiracy, mean conspiracy, against this expedition, and against the American flag.’

‘As how?’ inquired the captain, lighting a cigar with irritating calmness.

’They wear these pearls, in which I had trusted for absolute security against the Berbalangs.’

‘Well, I wear one too,’ said the captain, pointing to the pin in his necktie.  ’Are you going to tell me that I am a traitor to the flag, sir?  I warn you Professor, to be careful.’

‘What am I to think?’ asked Jenkins.

‘It is rather more important what you say,’ replied the captain.  ’What is this fine conspiracy?’

‘I had read in England about the Berbalangs.’

’Probably in Mr. Skertchley’s curious paper in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal?’ asked Bude with suavity.

Jenkins merely stared at him.

’I deemed that specimens of these American subjects, dowered with their strange and baneful gift, were well worthy of the study of American savants; and I knew that the pearls were a certain prophylactic.’

‘What’s that?’ asked the captain.

‘A kind of Universal Pain-Killer,’ said Jenkins.