a person; I would press such a charge; I have the money, the time, and
the inclination to do it."

She read the slight hesitation in his manner, not as if he were
impressed by what she had to say, but as though he was questioning
himself as to whether he should give her any answer at all. It made her
wish fervently that she were a man--and a big one. He spoke then, as if
an illuminating thought had occurred to him.

"You know Harrigan's record?"

"No," she admitted grudgingly.

McTee sighed as if with deep relief and leaned back in his chair. His
smile was sympathetic and it altered his face so marvelously that she
caught her breath.

"Of course that explains it, Miss Malone. I don't doubt that he was
clever enough to make you think him abused."

"He didn't say a word of accusation against anyone."

"Naturally not. When a man is bad enough to seem honest--"

He drew a long, slow puff on his cigar by way of finishing his sentence
and his eyes smiled kindly upon her.

"I knew that he would do his worst to start mutiny among the crew; I
didn't think he could get as far as the passengers."