Page 387 of 416

"I don't, Mrs. Mallaby," said the detective, and called the

Freekirk Head jailer. "But I know who is going to take

Schofield's place."

He glared at Nat Burns, who cowered silent and miserable in his

corner. Despite his sailing as Nat's guest he had never brought

himself to like the man, and now he was glad to be well rid of

him.

Code stepped out a free man, and his first action was to take

both of Elsa's hands and try to thank her. Her eyes dropped and

she blushed. When he had stammered through his speech he turned

to Caroline Fuller and repeated it, but the sad smile she gave

him tore at his heart.

"I came because Elsa asked me to save a friend," she said, "not

because I wished to revenge myself on Nat. I am glad it was you,

for I would do anything on earth for Elsa."

Code turned mystified eyes upon Mrs. Mallaby.

"I thought you did this to revenge yourself on Nat," he half

whispered.