The negro rested his tray on the rail, while the white man fumbled through his pockets for a key, finally locating it, and inserting the instrument into the lock of the second cabin from the stern.

It turned hard, causing some delay, and a muttered curse, but finally yielded, and the door was pushed partly ajar.

I heard no words exchanged with anyone within, but the negro pushed the tray forward without entering, sliding it along the deck, while Tim, evidently satisfied that his charges were quite safe, promptly reclosed and locked the door, returning the key to the security of his pocket.

After staring a moment over the rail at the shore past which we were gliding, he disappeared after the negro down the ladder.

I was again alone on the upper deck, except for the wheelsman in the pilot house, yet in that broad daylight I hesitated to act on my first impulse.