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Rh said with rising colour, his hands itching to get at the Portuguese.

"Ah, no, not pearls, exactly," replied Moniz, unruffled. "There are seeds—most promising seeds. Somewhere near there pearls worth much money must be waiting. But it will take time to find them—time, skill and patience. We could work in—what shall I say—more comfort, if instead of shooting at one another we pooled our resources. I have been pearling before, and, if I may say so, my experience would be valuable. Also I have two excellent divers working for me, and skilled divers are not plentiful round here just now."

"You mean you have two of our hands whom you filled with trade gin as a bribe to stop with you."

"They can work for anyone they please," retorted Moniz, still suave although conscious of the fact that he was making no headway. He was fully alive by now to the fact that whatever happened, this plain-spoken, forceful stranger was a power to reckon with in his negotiations. If he could be placated it might put a different complexion on matters. "I will not detain those divers if they wish to join you again," he went on. "There has been a misunderstanding all through, I fear. Mr. Trent is hot-headed. I made a fair business offer to him, and we might both have been better off