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"So I've got to beat 'em all now, have I?" he asked grimly, his

jaw setting with an ugly click. "Schofield and Mallaby,

and--yes--while I'm about it, Tanner, too. The old man never

liked me, the girl hates me, and I wouldn't mind giving 'em a dig

along with the rest. Just to show 'em that I'm not so easy an'

peaceful as I look! But how?"

For a considerable space of time he sat there, his head low on

his breast, and his eyes half closed as his brain went over

scheme after scheme. The detective that Nat had brought from St.

Andrew's stuck his head down the cabin and remarked:

"Look here, captain, I want to arrest my man and get back. Why

don't you hunt up that ship and let me finish?"

"I've got something a lot better on hand, Durkee," remarked Nat

with a grin, rising from his chair, a plan having leaped full

blown into his mind. "Just stick along with me and you'll get

your man, all right."