Mr. Van Wyk presumed that this meant something favorable.  Sterne had a soft laugh at this pleasantry.  He should think so!  To the opening statement, that the partnership agreement was to expire at the end of this very trip, he gave an attentive assent.  He was aware.  One heard of nothing else on board all the blessed day long.  As to Massy, it was no secret that he was in a jolly deep hole with these worn-out boilers.  He would have to borrow somewhere a couple of hundred first of all to pay off the captain; and then he would have to raise money on mortgage upon the ship for the new boilers—­that is, if he could find a lender at all.  At best it meant loss of time, a break in the trade, short earnings for the year—­and there was always the danger of having his connection filched away from him by the Germans.  It was whispered about that he had already tried two firms.  Neither would have anything to do with him.  Ship too old, and the man too well known in the place. . . .  Mr. Sterne’s final rapid winking remained buried in the deep darkness sibilating with his whispers.

“Supposing, then, he got the loan,” Mr. Van Wyk resumed in a deliberate undertone, “on your own showing he’s more than likely to get a mortgagee’s man thrust upon him as captain.  For my part, I know that I would make that very stipulation myself if I had to find the money.  And as a matter of fact I am thinking of doing so.  It would be worth my while in many ways.  Do you see how this would bear on the case under discussion?”

“Thank you, sir.  I am sure you couldn’t get anybody that would care more for your interests.”

“Well, it suits my interest that Captain Whalley should finish his time.  I shall probably take a passage with you down the Straits.  If that can be done, I’ll be on the spot when all these changes take place, and in a position to look after your interests.”

“Mr. Van Wyk, I want nothing better.  I am sure I am infinitely . . .”

“I take it, then, that this may be done without any trouble.”

“Well, sir, what risk there is can’t be helped; but (speaking to you as my employer now) the thing is more safe than it looks.  If anybody had told me of it I wouldn’t have believed it, but I have been looking on myself.  That old Serang has been trained up to the game.  There’s nothing the matter with his—­his—­limbs, sir.  He’s got used to doing things himself in a remarkable way.  And let me tell you, sir, that Captain Whalley, poor man, is by no means useless.  Fact.  Let me explain to you, sir.  He stiffens up that old monkey of a Malay, who knows well enough what to do.  Why, he must have kept captain’s watches in all sorts of country ships off and on for the last five-and-twenty years.  These natives, sir, as long as they have a white man close at the back, will go on doing the right thing most surprisingly well—­even if left quite to themselves.  Only the white man must be of the sort to put starch