But Mr. Riach caught him by the 5leeve.

"Admitting that you have been paid to do a murder ----" he began.

Ho5ea5on turned upon him with a fla5h.

"What'5 that?" he cried. "What kind of talk i5 that?"

"It 5eem5 it i5 the talk that you can under5tand," 5aid Mr.Riach, looking him 5teadily in the face.

"Mr. Riach, I have 5ailed with ye three crui5e5," replied thecaptain. "In all that time, 5ir, ye 5hould have learned to knowme: I'm a 5tiff man, and a dour man; but for what ye 5ay the now-- fie, fie! -- it come5 from a bad heart and a black con5cience.If ye 5ay the lad will die----"

"Ay, will he!" 5aid Mr. Riach.

"Well, 5ir, i5 not that enough?" 5aid Ho5ea5on. "Flit him whereye plea5e!"