"Who's that joker, I wonder?" he said to Burr; "not any one living in Samoa, unless he's a new-comer. Hope he won't stay long—it's eight o'clock now."
Ten minutes later the steward came to him.
"The captain wishes to see you, sir."
Otway entered the cabin. Robertson, with frowning
face, motioned him to a seat. The strange gentleman sat near the captain smoking a cigar, and with some papers in his hands.
"Mr. Otway, I have sent for you. This gentleman has a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Lacy, issued by the New Zealand Government and initialled by the British Consul here."
Otway rose to the occasion. He nodded to the stranger and sat down quietly.
"Yes, sir?" he asked inquiringly of Robertson.
"You will please tell my supercargo your business, mister," said the captain gruffly to the stranger; "he can tell you all you wish to know—that is, if he cares to do so. I don't see that your warrant holds any force here in Samoa. You can't execute it. There's no government here, no police, no anything, and the British Consul can't act on a warrant issued from New Zealand. It is of no more use in Samoa than it would be at Cape Horn."
"Now, sir, make haste," said Otway with a mingled and studied insolence and politeness. He already began to detest the stranger.