H. Bedford-Jones

“ I’m afraid we’re going to have trouble with one or two of our friends; young Marks has taken a dislike to your friend Garrity, and Pinsky is advising that you be put out of the way. I thought I’d warn you. Those fellows are not to be trusted.”
“Thank you,” returned Venable, frowning a little. “Still, I fancy you’ve exaggerated; we’ve not mixed with any of your crowd, and they’d have no reason—”
“My dear fellow,” exclaimed Boris familiarly, “when an ill-gotten fortune is at stake, there is only one reason at bottom of everything; the fewer to divide the loot, the better! ”

“ Everybody aboard this ship is out to murder everybody else!”
“Pretty close to the mark, Parson,” assented Garrity. “Boris tried to buy up Stormalong, who was wise enough to say yes. I told him about things, and he says to tell you that he’ll throw in with us any old time.”
“All right.” Venable nodded. “Here’s some one now. Looks like Jason.”
The mate appeared, carrying a lantern and a strong whisky-breath. He squinted at the course, and nodded.
“Cap’n’s gone!” he said lugubriously. “Poor ol’ Hewson’s gone! Him an’ me has sailed together these seven year, too. ”

“ She is capable of anything!”
“Very well,” assented Venable. “The skipper appears amiable, too, and I don’t like it. By the way, he’s changed our course altogether; we’re heading due south into the Eastern Sea, instead of east past Japan on a course for Honolulu. Look at the chart yourself.”
Gerin nodded carelessly. “Of course; he wants to get off the steamer-lanes until the work on the ship is done; then he’ll draw a line direct for Mexico. If he runs across any other ship, we sha’n’t be recognized. Well, we’d better arrange matters to-night, and I’ll attend to Mr. Hewson without delay. ”