the case, that they despised each other and were not on speaking
terms, von Staden decided that the chance of Terence Reardon's
listening to Michael J. Murphy's tale of piracy and mutiny was so
vague as to be almost negligible. However, he was painstaking and
careful in all things and never ran any unnecessary risks;
consequently, just to be on the safe side, he had instructed the first
assistant to plug the speaking-tube leading to the skipper's room. And
in order to discourage the captain from, seeking an interview with the
chief, von Staden had told the former that the chief was a prisoner.

Mr. Reardon was too important a personage to be deprived of his
liberty when nothing was to be gained by such action. If he could be
kept in ignorance of the state of affairs aboard the _Narcissus_, he
would continue to attend to business; if the worst came to the worst
his friendship would be a better asset than his hatred. If he grew
suspicious and demanded a showdown, Herr von Staden would give it to
him without reservation and stuff his mouth with gold; then, if the
chief declined to listen to reason, it would be time enough to lock
him up. While the supercargo would not hesitate to sacrifice his life,
his liberty, or his honor for his country, he was nevertheless
desirous of being a gentleman if accorded the opportuniby. And it must
be admitted he had found Mr. Reardon amusing and vastly entertaining,
for the very first night aboard, after Mr. Schultz had introduced him
to the chief and he had presented the latter with a good cigar, Mr.
Reardon, under the spell of the witchery cast by the sea and the
night, had sat on deck and told the German wonderful tales of the
fairies in Ireland--this while the skipper was ashore. In particular
he told von Staden the tale of the fairy queen with the iron hand.

"Her hand," said Terence, "was as beautiful as ye'd find in a day's