Two were well-dressed, rather gentlemanly appearing fellows, the others of a decidedly rougher class, although bearing no outward marks of being sea-men.

While an air of carelessness was assumed by all these, yet West, watching them closely, felt that they were very much on their guard, anxiously waiting an opportunity to depart.

No face among the party had any familiarity; he had encountered none of them at Mike's Place the evening before.

Satisfied as to this, he left the table, and strolled out on to the promenade, joining the crowd watching the Lincoln Park boat get underway.

So far as he could observe this movement attracted no attention, although a moment later his eyes plainly caught a bit of drapery drawn slightly aside at one of the cabin windows of the _Seminole_, and, he felt convinced, the quick gesture of a woman's hand.
There was a woman on board then! This certainty of knowledge by evidence of his own eyes, set his blood leaping.