The spectator., 1922-03-21
CHAPTER xl-Continued.

Ni"SSuAboSe.
 -12-
 Hes some fox" said Lund. Miss Peggy. you better superintend the theatricals. It's got to be done right. Rainey. not to interrupt you. what do you know about enteric fever?
 "Nothing"
 "Well. it's the same as typhoid. Therell be a surgeon aboard that gun boat. You got to bluff him. Say little an look wise as an owl. Don't let him mix in with yore patient"
 My patient?"
 "Tamada He's got enteric fever. If there's time he'll give you all the dope"
 But don't see how that"
 You will see when you see Tamada," Lund grinned. "How about them logs? Can you fix 'em?"
 "I think SO"
 "Then hop to 1t. I'm goin' to wise up the men and arrange a reception com mittee. Don't forgit yore names Carl sen. an mines Simms."
 Rainey wrote rapidly in his log, erasing. eliminating pages without trace. initiating the slippers phrasing. Fortunately Simms had made scant entries at first and. later on. as the drug held him, none at all. Carlsen had kept no record that he could find. The girl had gone forward to aid with Tamada's plan which Lund had evidently accepted.
 Before he had quite finished he heard the tramp of men on deck and the blast of steam whistle. He ended his task and went up to see the gun boat. gray and menacing, its brasses glistening. men on her decks at their tasks. oblivious of the schooner. and officers on her bridge watching the progress of a launch toward the foe.
 It made landing smartly. and a lieutenant. diminutive but highly effective in appearance. led six men toward the Karluk. He wore a sword and revolver: the men carried carbines. Their disciplined rank and smartness. the waiting launch, the gunboat in the offing. were ominous with the sugges- ton of power, the will to administer 1t. The officer In command carried his chin at an arrogant tilt Lund had rigged a gangway and stood at the head of 1t. saluting the lieutenant as the latter snappily answered the greet ing.
 Rainey found the girl and put . hurried question.
 "What about Tamada? Where is he? Whats the plan?"
 She turned to him with eyes that danced with excitement.
 Hes in the galley. Doctor Carlsen. But he isn't Tamada any more. He's Jim Cunee. nigger cook. sick with enteric fever. not to be disturbed"
 Rainey stared. It was a clever de- vice. if Tamada could carry 1t out and he bear his own part in the masquer- ade. The willingness of Tamads to risk the disguise was assurance of his fidelity.
 "Lund should have told me-" he said. I've got to change his name on the papers It won't take minute though: he doesn't appear in the log"
 The Japanese officer wasted no time on deck. For precaution. Rainey made his alteration In the slippers cabin, leaving the log there on the built-in desk
 "This Is Lieutenant Ito. Doctor Carlsen," said Lund. You want to see our papers. Lieutenant3"
 My orders are to examine the In EnuliSh more perfect than Tamada's. His face was officially severe. though his slant eyes shifted constantly toward the girl. Evidently she was an un- expected feature of the visit
 'Tll get the papers first" said Lund. Doctor, you an Peggy entertain the lieutenant" Rainey set out some whisky, which the Japanese refused, some cigars that he passed over with a motion of his hand. He sat down stiffiy and ran through the papers.
 "Were pelagic. you know" said Lund. "We ain't trespassin' on pur- pose. Didn't even know you owned the island"
 "It Is on our charts" said Ito crisp ly, as if that settled the right of do- minion. "How did you come here at allr
 "We was brought" said Lund. Got froze in north O Wrangell. Gale set us west as we come out O the strait. We're bound for Corwin. Nothin' contraband All reg'lar. Six hunters, two damaged in the gale, though the docs fixed 'em up. Twelve seamen, one boy, an nigger cook who's pois- ened himself with his own cookin'. Docs bringin' him round, too, though he don't deserve it. Want to make yore inspectionf We're in no hurry to git away until the ice melts. Take yore time"