"The second mate will fight," said Hi John thoughtfully.
"If he is not slain before he gets a chance."
"There remains the wireless officer."
"True. He remains."
The two men looked at each other and smiled mirthlessly. The wireless man was the privileged son of a Macaense, chief owner of the Sulu Queen. Cumshaw had obtained his berth; he did not know one end of the wireless from another, as the quartermasters had learned when Jim Barnes cursed him for an idiotic fool. He was no better than an idiot; he was, indeed, some degrees worse, since the diseased degeneracy of Asia was his heritage.
"Then you and I are alone," said Hi John.
"We are alone. What answer shall we make to Lim Tock when the time comes?"
Hi John extinguished his cigarette.
"Duty is a shining star, Li Fu. I have a revolver in my bag."
"I have one also," said Li Fu. "Yet I do not want to swallow gold."