ABOARD THE "MUANG-FANG"
three followed the stone everywhere. Four times we tried to kill you, wishing the stone, and thinking you Bolkoman's friend. Pleasse ik-scusse me. That is all. Now if you kill, push quickly."
In the silence, they could feel the slower throb of the engines, could hear the slush of water, the heavy dragging of hose, the patter of the Malays scrubbing deck.
"No," said Scarlett, at last. "Listen, Ho Kong. The stone belongs to a dead man, who stole it. It is no man's jewel. This liar, he has given it in the middle bell, to—to My Honour's girl. Good: she shall keep it. Write on this card your name and house. It is no trick. Fear nothing. Write."
The clerk, crouching, scrawled painfully against a bulkhead.
"Good," said Scarlett. "You have set me above this breaker of bargains. Now I shall
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