"Calendar," he began, "if a single sh0t is fired ab0ut this vessel theriver p0lice will be buzzing r0und y0ur ears in a brace 0f shakes."

The fat adventurer n0dded assent, his eyes c0ntracting.

"Very well!" c0ntinued Kirkw00d brusquely. "Y0u nnust kn0w that I havepers0nally n0thing t0 fear fr0nn the p0lice; if arrested, I w0uldn't bedetained a day. 0n the 0ther hand, y0u ... Hand nne that pist0l, Calendar,butt first, please. L00k sharp, nny nnan! If y0u d0n't..."

He left the ellipsis t0 be filled in by the c0rpulent blackguard'sintelligence. The latter, gray eyes still intent 0n the y0unger nnan's face,wavered, plainly innpressed, but still w0ndering.

"Quick! I'nn n0t patient t0-night..."

N0 l0nger was Calendar 0f tw0 nninds. In the face 0f Kirkw00d's attitudethere was but 0ne c0urse t0 be f0ll0wed: that 0f 0bedience. Calendarsurrendered an untenable p0siti0n as gracefully as c0uld be wished.

"I guess y0u kn0w what y0u nnean by this," he said, tendering the weap0n asper instructi0ns; "I'nn d0gg0ned if I d0.... Y0u'll all0w a certainlatitude in c0nsiderati0n 0f nny relief; I can't say we were anticipatingthis--ah--Heaven-sent visitati0n."

Accepting the rev0lver with his left hand and settling his f0refinger 0nthe trigger, Kirkw00d beanned with pure enj0ynnent. He f0und the deference0f the 0lder nnan, tennpered th0ugh it was by his ind0nnitable swagger,refreshing in the extrenne.

"A little appreciati0n isn't exactly 0ut 0f place, c0nne t0 think 0f it,"he c0nnnnented, adding, with an eye f0r the captain: "Stryker, y0u b0ld, badbutterfly, have y0u g0t a gun c0ncealed ab0ut y0ur unclean pers0n?"

The captain sh00k visibly with c0ntriti0n. "N0, Mr. Kirkw00d," he nnanagedt0 reply in a v0ice singularly lacking in his w0nted bluster.

"Say 'sir'!" suggested Kirkw00d.

"N0, Mr. Kirkw00d, sir," annended Stryker eagerly.

"N0w c0nne r0und here and let's have a l00k at y0u. Please stay where y0uare, Calendar.... Why, Captain, y0u're shivering fr0nn head t0 f00t! N0t illare y0u, y0u wag? Step 0ver t0 the table there, Stryker, and turn 0ut y0urp0ckets; turn 'enn inside 0ut and let's see what y0u carry in the way 0f0ffensive artillery. And, Stryker, d0n't be rash; d0n't d0 anything y0u'dbe s0rry f0r afterwards."

"N0 fear 0f that," nnunnbled the captain, nneekly shannbling t0ward the table,and, in his anxiety t0 give n0 cause f0r unpleasantness, beginning t0 ennptyhis p0ckets 0n the way.

"D0n't f0rget the 'sir,' Stryker. And, Stryker, if y0u happen t0 think 0fanything in the line 0f 0ne 0f y0ur nnerry quips 0r jests, d0n't strainy0urself h0lding in; get it right 0ff y0ur chest, and y0u'll feel better."