" Though I remembered the young lady's name , but couldn't place it at the moment .sx The child is Maurice Chartlon's , and the millions - " .sx " How on earth do you know ?sx " interjected Norma .sx The pearler laughed .sx " Maurice Charlton is pretty well known on this coast , and there isn't a paper in Australia that hasn't broadcasted that story about his little boy being made heir to the Van Houten millions .sx It's Romance with a capital R , and you couldn't expect the newspapers not to chew it thin .sx .sx .. But , stars in heaven , do you really mean that there's someone out to do Maurice's kid out of those millions ?sx " .sx " Unquestionably , I think , " answered Terry .sx " Miss Charlton is Maurice's sister and the little boy's appointed guardian .sx There has been some very crooked business somewhere and instead of a passage to Australia being arranged in one of the regular boats she was shipped on a rusty old tramp called The Dusty Miller " .sx " Jer-u-salem !sx .sx .. Amos Smith !sx That old pirate is in it , is he ?sx .sx .. An' he's no friend of Maurice's .sx " " He was the man who put us ashore instead of taking us on to Broome .sx " " Meant to steal a march on you , I guess .sx .. He's a fly rascal .sx .. But kidnapping is a new line of business with him .sx Must be meaning to squeeze Maurice through the boy " .sx " He happens to have been hired to do this particular piece of rascality , " interrupted Terry .sx " That so ?sx Gets more like one o' those yellow-back yarns every minute .sx .. That means there's somebody else in the game .sx " " Yes .sx " Borlase laughed .sx " Thought it was a bit off Amos's usual line .sx Fellow who has chartered him will have to keep his eyes wide open or he'll be sold a packet .sx " He glanced in the direction of the dune , then his grey eyes grew fixed and extraordinary keen .sx " There's one of them Japs in the sand there , " he remarked nonchalantly .sx " Hasn't given up hope yet , seemingly , an' doesn't know that he's just in range .sx Watch me make the beggar jump .sx " His hand went up suddenly .sx The pistol it held cracked and at the top of the nearest dune a little spurt of sand shot into the air .sx In the same second the head and shoulders of a man appeared as if the owner , taken by surprise whilst lying on the ground , had leaped suddenly to his feet .sx Borlase laughed and held his hand whilst the head and shoulders vanished .sx Then he spoke :sx " Could have got him all right , if I wanted .sx .. But unnecessary killing is murder , and the scare'll make the fellow keep his distance .sx " He laughed once more and resumed the conversation as if nothing had happened .sx " I don't just see where you come in , Mr. Domville .sx Mind you , I'm not asking ; but I'll own to being curious .sx I guess you were on The Dusty Miller when Miss Charlton boarded her .sx " " I was , " answered Terry with a laugh .sx " Somebody the skipper for a guess thought I knew more about the affair than I did , and had me shanghaied .sx .sx .. It wasn't until after that I heard Miss Charlton's story .sx " The pearler nodded .sx " Then Amos over-reached .sx himself , and not for the first time .sx .. It's the way with them crooked guys , I guess .sx " He rose and looked over the side .sx " Tide's making well , we'll be afloat in twenty minutes .sx Lucky I've got that auxiliary engine an' enough gas to work her .sx We'll get off this sand as easy as pie .sx .. Maybe Miss Charlton will just watch out for the Japs , whilst you an' me get down to the job , Mr. Domville .sx " Norma watched whilst the two men gave themselves to the necessary work .sx Presently she heard the noisy zoom of an indifferent engine and the rank odour of kerosene poisoned the air .sx The tide boomed inshore and lapped the sides of the lugger , which quivered and lifted a little .sx In a short time there was a goodish stretch of water between the craft and the dunes , and watching , Norma hoped there would be no trouble with the Japs .sx Scarcely had the thought crossed her mind when she saw two of them .sx They were well behind the dune from which Borlase had scared the man with his shot , and standing at their full height apparently watching the operations on the lugger .sx She called out to the pearler , who came forward , looked at the two men and grinned .sx " Nothing to worry over .sx To get here now they'd have to swim for it , and we " He broke off as the lugger lurched and the slant of her deck grew less marked .sx " We'll be afloat in a jiffy .sx .. If it isn't too unladylike you can stick your fingers to your nose at those fellows , Miss Charlton .sx .. Excuse me .sx " He hurried away , and four minutes later , Norma clutched the tiny rail as the lugger slid off the bankinto deep water .sx She heard Borlase cry out exultantly :sx " We're off , Domville .sx Keep her going .sx " The little craft became suddenly a thing of life .sx She moved , gathered pace , and three minutes later was heading against the tide , with the spray flying over her bows like a shower of jewels .sx Again Norma looked at the dunes .sx They seemed much further away than she would have thought possible ; and the two Jags were doll-like figures , black against the sand .sx She left her place and walked to where Terry Domville was standing at the small wheel .sx He greeted her cheerfully .sx " The trick is done .sx To-morrow we shall be at Broome .sx " Norma smiled and looked towards the shore .sx As she did so she cried out :sx " But we are going the other way !sx " .sx " Back in our tracks !sx Yes , " Terry laughed .sx " That old scoundrel on The Dusty Miller did us brown there .sx He must have passed Broome before he put us ashore , guessing , I suppose , that we should march southward in the hope of hitting the port .sx All yesterday we were marching in the wrong direction away instead of towards Broome .sx That coast there , Borlase tells me is the Ninety-mile Beach , which is south of the port .sx .. And we've had better luck than we could have expected .sx Borlase swears that this is the last boat left out of Broome , that the rest are in port for the lay-up .sx " " Lay-up !sx What's that ?sx " .sx " Oh , er , sort of spring-cleaning , you know .sx So the luck is better even than it seems .sx Looks as if the .sx stars were fighting for us , and if when we hit Broome we find old Seabright with the Kestrel I shall think they are .sx " " But it's The Dusty Miller that matters , isn't it ?sx " she asked .sx " If those wicked men have got Maurice's child , they won't linger " .sx " Oh , we shall find the Miller there all right .sx Seabright won't take action at once .sx Captain Amos Smith will be detained for inquiries and as he will have some trouble in accounting for you and me , the inquiry will still be going on when we show up to knock the stuffing out of any fairy-tales which Captain Amos may have concocted .sx " " But if by any chance you should be wrong " began Norma , her face betraying her anxiety .sx " Can't be , " broke in Terry , cheerfully .sx " When The Dusty Miller dropped anchor , I'll wager Seabright was already in the dinghy and on his way to demand us from that burly rascal of a skipper .sx You'll see .sx " He spoke confidently .sx He was sincere in his confidence and he had no doubt whatever that the Kestrel would be in Broome and that his friend would be making things lively for the skipper of The Dusty Miller .sx His confidence banished the girl's doubts , and her gratitude moved her to a quick response .sx " Whatever should I have done without you ?sx " .sx Late in the afternoon of the next day they made the port and saw it lift from the sea in contrast with some other small ports of that coast , a place of beauty .sx First the lighthouse on the highest bluff , then the low red cliffs , and the green mangroves , and then the town , all bathed in brilliant light , white and green,with the purple of the bougainvillaeas and the red of the poinciana blossoms for further colour .sx As they swung inwards , Terry's eyes went to the shipping .sx The first vessel that he saw was the Kestrel , swinging at her moorings , graceful as a sea-bird in still water .sx " Good old Seabright !sx " he cried to Norma .sx " I told you he would not fail us !sx " .sx His eyes went further .sx There were several luggers at anchor , their particular calling unmistakable to sophisticated eyes , and beyond moored at the jetty was a steamer , the only one to be seen .sx He looked at her under shaded eyes .sx Norma also looked .sx " Is that The Dusty Miller ?sx " she asked , a little doubtfully .sx " No , " he said , his voice betraying his consternation .sx Jim Borlase , leaving his post as engineer for a moment , gave fuller information .sx " That's the Minderoo from Singapore and Batavia to Perth .sx .. Don't see old Amos's rusty kettle about .sx " The girl looked at Terry with tragic eyes .sx Her face had gone very white .sx Her lips trembled as she shaped them to despairing words .sx " Too late !sx We are too late !sx " .sx Terry himself was a little stunned .sx The absence of The Dusty Miller was a thing so far outside his anticipations as to be almost incredible to him .sx Yet there was no questioning the fact .sx Hurriedly his mind sought for possible explanations and found only one that seemed remotely likely .sx " No !sx " said the girl in the same despairing tone .sx " We are late too late .sx And the child Dear .sx heavens , what will happen to him ?sx .sx .. What can I do ?sx " She sat down on a heap of diving-gear and buried her face in her hands , in Terry Domville's eyes , a figure utterly forlorn .sx As he looked at her a great anger surged in him against the master of The Dusty Miller , and a troubled look came on his face .sx He stepped forward and put a sympathetic hand on her heaving shoulder .sx " Steady , my dear !sx " he said , using the endearment as it surged to his lips without thought .sx " Steady !sx I'll find that scoundrel if I have to comb every part in the Seven Seas .sx " Then the girl lifted her head for a moment and he saw the brown eyes dim with tears .sx " Yes !sx " she whispered brokenly .sx " Yes .sx But the child ?sx .sx .. If .sx .. if .sx .. " .sx The thought in her mind was too dreadful for her to express in words , but Terry understood .sx There indeed was the rub .sx One might find Captain Amos Smith , no matter to what far port he took his rusty ship but the child might make no port this side of heaven .sx " If .sx .. if " his own mind echoed , and then he stared with grim eyes at the white tide-rip , whilst silently he registered a vow as to the end of the master of The Dusty Miller if the child whom he had never seen were not found .sx CHAPTER X .sx AT BROOME .sx TWENTY-FIVE minutes later with Norma he was at the side of the Kestrel in the lugger's dinghy .sx He did not climb the ladder .sx From one of the crew loafing on the deck he learned that his friend was ashore at the Governor Broome Hotel .sx He lost no time in getting there .sx Regardless of the fact that he looked like a beachcomber and that Norma might easily have been mistaken for a female of that species , he made straight for the place , and the first person he saw there was Seabright , who stared at him and then at his companion in wonder .sx " Good Lord , old man , what " " Wait , " broke in Terry abruptly .sx " Find a quiet corner .sx " The corner was quickly found , and without wasting a moment the question was asked :sx " Has The Dusty Miller been here ?sx " .sx " Not since I arrived , five days ago .sx I've watched for her smoke to lift , every hour of daylight , and had a lookout posted through every hour of the dark !sx " " Thank God !sx " said Terry .sx " Norma , we may yet be in time .sx " Then Seabright asked questions :sx " How comes it .sx that you have left the old tank , Terry ?sx And how the deuce did you come to be aboard her ?sx Remember , I know nothing but what that bottle-message told me .sx "