between the object of his wrath and Skipper Simms--just

enough to set him to wondering what was doing, and to show

him that whatever it might be it was crooked and that the

immaculate passenger and Skipper Simms were both "in on

it."

He questioned "Bony" Sawyer and "Red" Sanders, but

neither had nearly as much information as Billy himself, and

so the Halfmoon came to Honolulu and lay at anchor some

hundred yards from a stanch, trim, white yacht, and none

knew, other than the Halfmoon's officers and her single

passenger, the real mission of the harmless-looking little brigantine.

CHAPTER III

THE CONSPIRACY

NO SHORE leave was granted the crew of the Halfmoon while

the vessel lay off Honolulu, and deep and ominous were the

grumblings of the men. Only First Officer Ward and the

second mate went ashore. Skipper Simms kept the men busy

painting and holystoning as a vent for their pent emotions.

Billy Byrne noticed that the passenger had abandoned his

daylight strolls on deck. In fact he never once left his cabin

while the Halfmoon lay at anchor until darkness had fallen;

then he would come on deck, often standing for an hour at a

time with eyes fastened steadily upon the brave little yacht

from the canopied upper deck of which gay laughter and soft

music came floating across the still water.

When Mr. Ward and the second mate came to shore a

strange thing happened. They entered a third-rate hotel near

the water front, engaged a room for a week, paid in advance,

were in their room for half an hour and emerged clothed in

civilian raiment.

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