‘Well, you surprise me,’ said the captain, ’a man of your education.  Pain-Killer!’ and he expectorated dexterously.

‘I mean that the pearls keep off the Berbalangs,’ said Jenkins.

‘Then why didn’t you lay in a stock of the pearls?’ asked the captain.

’Because these conspirators had been before me.  These men, or their agents, had bought up, just before our arrival, every pearl in the island.  They had wormed out my secret, knew the object of my adventure, knew how to ruin us all, and I denounce them.’

’A corner in pearls.  Well, it was darned ‘cute,’ said the captain impartially.  ’Now, Mr. Jones Harvey, and Mr. Logan, sir, what have you to say?’

’Did Mr. Jenkins—­I think you said that this gentleman’s name is Jenkins?—­see the agent engaged in making this corner in pearls, or learn his name?’ asked Bude.

‘He was an Irish American, one McCarthy,’ answered Jenkins sullenly.

‘I am unacquainted with the gentleman,’ said Bude, ’and I never employed any one for any such purpose.  My visit to Cagayan Sulu was some years ago, just after that of Mr. Skertchley.  Captain Funkal, I have already acquainted you with the facts, and you were kind enough to say that you accepted my statement.’

‘I did, sir, and I do,’ answered the captain.  ‘As for you,’ he went on, ’Mr. Professor Jenkins, when you found that your game was dangerous, indeed likely to be ruinous, to this scientific expedition, and to the crew of the George Washington—­damn you, sir—­you should have dropped it.  I don’t know that I ever swore at a passenger before, and I beg your pardon, you two English gentlemen, for so far forgetting myself.  I don’t know, and these gentlemen don’t know, who made the corner, but I don’t think our citizens want either you or your exhibits.  The whole population of the States, sir, not to mention the live stock, cannot afford to go about wearing cocoa-nut pearls, a precaution which would be necessary if I landed these venomous Berbalangs of yours on our shores:  man and wife too, likely to have a family of young Berbalangs.  Snakes are not a patch on these darkeys, and our coloured population, at least, would be busted up.’

The captain paused, perhaps attracted by the chance of thus solving the negro problem.

’So, I’ll tell you what it is, gentlemen; and, Professor Jenkins, I’ll turn back and land these two native exhibits, and I’ll put you on shore, Professor Jenkins, at Cagayan Sulu.  Perhaps before a steamer touches there—­which is not once in a blue moon—­you’ll have had time to write an exhaustive monograph on the Berbalangs, their manners and customs.’