Brandon of the Engineers

"As he was forced to go, his business must be important," Dick said

thoughtfully. "This means he must be dealt with before he lands at

Kingston. If we allowed him to meet his confederates there, the mischief

would be done, and it might be too late afterwards to stop them carrying

out their plans."

Don Sebastian gave him a quiet smile. "One might learn who his

confederates are if he met them. It looks as if you would sooner deal

with our friend on board."

"I would," Dick said steadily. "His plotting must be stopped, but I'm

inclined to think I'd be content with that."

"And you?" the Spaniard asked, turning to Jake.

"I don't know that Kenwardine is in the worst of the plot. He was a

friend of mine and it's your business to prove him guilty. I mean to

reserve my opinion until you make your charges good."

"Very well," said Don Sebastian. "We'll be guided by what happens when we

see him."

They let the matter drop, and half an hour later a white light and a

green light crept out of the dark to seawards, and a faint throbbing grew

into the measured beat of a steamer's screw. Then a low, shadowy hull,

outlined by a glimmer of phosphorescence, came on towards the harbor

mouth, and a rocket swept up in a fiery curve and burst, dropping colored

lights. A harsh rattle of running chain broke out, the screw splashed

noisily for a few moments and stopped, and a launch came swiftly down the

harbor.

"The port doctor!" said Dick. "There's some cargo ready, and she won't

sail for three or four hours. We had better wait until near the last

moment before we go on board. If our man saw us, he'd take alarm and

land."

Don Sebastian agreed, and they went back to the hotel, and stayed there

until word was sent that the last boat was ready to leave the mole. They

took their places with one or two more passengers, and as they drew near

the steamer Dick looked carefully about. Several shore boats were hanging

on to the warp alongside and a cargo barge lay beside her quarter. It was

obvious that she would not sail immediately, and if Kenwardine saw them

come on board, he would have no trouble in leaving the vessel. If he

landed, he would be in neutral territory, and their hold on him would be

gone. To make things worse, a big electric lamp had been hung over the

gangway so as to light the ladder.

Dick could not see Kenwardine among the passengers on deck, and getting

on board as quietly as possible, they went down the nearest companion

stairs and along an alleyway to the purser's office. A number of rooms

opened on to the passage, and Dick had an uncomfortable feeling that

chance might bring him face to face with Kenwardine. Nobody met them,

however, and they found the purser disengaged.