And as they went Gavin spoke.  He spoke in a low tone. not moving his lips or looking directly toward the other man.

“Good boy.  Davy!” he said, approvingly.  “How did you get the job of taking me around?  I was afraid I’d have to look for you.”

“Two other men were picked out to do it sir,” said the conch without slackening his pace or turning his head.  “One after the other.  One was a nigger.  One was a conch.  Both of ’em got sick.  I paid ’em to.  And I paid the nigger an extra five to tell Roke I’d be the best man to steer you.  He said he’d been on jobs with me before.  He and the conch are malingering in the sick shed.  Ipecac.  I gave it to ’em.”

“Good!” repeated Gavin.  “Mighty good.  Now what’s the idea?”

“You’re to be kept over here, sir,” said the conch.  “I don’t know why.  Roke told me you’re a chum of Hade’s, and that Hade’s doing it to have a bit of fun with you.  So I’m to lead you around awhile, showing you the plant and such.  Then I’m to take you to the second storage hut and tell you we’ve got a new kind of avocado stored in there, and let you go in ahead of me, and I’m to slam the spring-lock door on you.”

“Hm!  That all, Davy?”

“Yes, sir.  Except of course that it’s a lie.  Hade don’t play jokes or have fun with any one.  If he’s trying to keep you locked up here a while it’s most likely a sign he don’t want you on the mainland for some reason.  Maybe that sounds foolish.  But it’s all the head or tail I can make out of it, sir.”

“It doesn’t ‘sound foolish,’” contradicted Brice.  “As it happens it’s just what he wants to do.  I don’t know just why.  But I mean to find out.  He wants me away from a house over there.  A house I had a lot of trouble in getting a foothold in.  It’s taken me the best part of a month.  And now I don’t mean to spend another month in getting back there.”

“No, sir,” said Davy, respectfully, still plodding on. in front with head and shoulders bent.  “No, sir.  Of course.  But—­if you’ll let me ask, sir—­does Hade know?  Does he suspicion you?  If that’s why he’s framed this then Roustabout Key is no place for you.  No more is Dade County.  He—­”

“No,” returned Gavin. smiling at the real terror that had crept into the other’s tone.  “He doesn’t know.  And I’m sure he doesn’t suspect.  But he has a notion he’s seen me somewhere.  And he’s a man who doesn’t take chances.  Besides he wants me away from the Standish house.  He wants every outsider away from it.  And I knew this would be the likeliest place for him to maroon me.  That’s why I sent you word ....  I’m a bit wobbly in my beliefs about the Standishes,—­one of them anyhow.  Now, where’s this storehouse prison of mine?”

“Over there, sir, to the right.  But—­”

“Take me over there.  And walk slowly.  I’ve some things to say to you on the way, and I want you to get them straight in your memory.”