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 by things of so much more importance. I mean, for instance, that this steamer is carrying ammunition to De Brigard and his men. If that ammunition is delivered into the hands of the Locombian Government instead of to their enemies, Ulloa and his army can at once re-enter the field."

"But why re-enter the field? They are free." "In a way, yes; but they are now shut up in Guariqui, practically, with only a few thousand reserve cartridges and a half ton of useless cordite. But the moment they have made sure that the Laminian is safely tied up at the pier in Puerto Locombia they plan to run a banana-train, armoured with boiler-plate, down through De Brigard's lines to the coast. They will fight their way down, probably under cover of night, run their cars out on the pier next to the Laminian's berth, seize their slag-boxes as contraband of war, and fight their way back to Guariqui."

"You know this?"

"It is the knowledge of this," he guardedly replied, "which makes me say that you and I are compelled, or will be compelled, to act together."

Alicia Boynton did not speak for several seconds, but her studious eyes were fixed on McKinnon's face.