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Rh others on the veranda. The ague had passed off then, but his brain was still playing absurd tricks.

After lunch Steel and Chester, who found a good deal to discuss concerning "shop," drifted into an animated conversation on the subject of business prospects in the South Seas, and a bright thought assailed the planter of Tao Tao.

"Ever been interested in pearling?" he asked.

"I have dabbled—once or twice," Steel replied. "A man can't keep out of it for ever in these waters if he has any imagination—and a chance. I did fairly well in the Banda Sea some years ago until my partner died. Black water fever nipped him off. After that I chucked it up, because I didn't know a whole lot about it, and we'd got pretty well all there was in the place where we were working."

Chester blew a wreath of cigar smoke thoughtfully.

"I wish, Mr. Steel, that you were staying longer. I have found pearls right here at Tao Tao."

Steel gave him a glance of interrogation.

"Indeed!" he said, with quickened interest. "Much success?"

"Yes—and no," Chester replied. "You know what it is, Mr. Steel. The things don't jump up and hit you in the eye. You've got to dig for 'em, so to speak. Now, there's a spot not far from the shore of this island which looked to me once as though it were going to produce a fortune. There