When Dirk Peters came up to me, he did not address me at first, and was so intent on his thoughts that I was not quite sure he saw me.

At length, heleaned back against an ice-block, and spoke: "Mr.Jeorling," he said, "you remember, in your cabin in the _Halbrane_, I told you the--the affair of the _Grampus_ ?" I remembered well.
"I told you that Parker's name was not Parker, that it was Holt, and that he was Ned Holt's brother ?" "I know, Dirk Peters," I replied, "but why do you refer to that sad story again ?" "Why, Mr.Jeorling?
Have not--have you never sam anything about it to anybody ?" "Not to anybody," I protested.

"How could you suppose I should be so ill-advised, so imprudent, as to divulge your secret, a secret which ought never to pass our lips--a dead secret ?" "Dead, yes, dead! And yet, understand me, it seems to me that, among the crew, something is known." I instantly recalled to mind what the boatswain had told me concerning a certain conversation in which he had overheard Hearne prompting Martin Holt to ask the half-breed what were the circumstances of his brother's death on board the _Grampus_.

Had a portion of the secret got out, or was this apprehension on the part of Dirk Peters purely imaginary?
"Explain yourself," I said.
"Understand me, Mr.Jeorling, I am a bad hand at explaining.

Yes, yesterday--I have thought of nothing else since--Martin Holt took me aside, far from the others, and told me that he wished to speak to me--" "Of the _Grampus_ ?" "Of the _Grampus_--yes, and of his brother, Ned Holt.