Can't you ?" With a gesture of resignation and a half-stifled groan Willems submitted to the stronger will, and the two men paced slowly up and down the resounding planks, while Lingard disclosed to Willems the exact manner of his undoing.

After the first shock Willems lost the faculty of surprise in the over-powering feeling of indignation.

So it was Vinck and Leonard who had served him so.

They had watched him, tracked his misdeeds, reported them to Hudig.

They had bribed obscure Chinamen, wormed out confidences from tipsy skippers, got at various boatmen, and had pieced out in that way the story of his irregularities.