Page:On to Pekin.djvu/113

Rh "That makes it certain he is in a game against me and my father," he said. "Unless I take good care of myself, he will prove a regular snake in the grass. I wish I could pitch him overboard."

"You will have to be extra careful of what you say after this, Nuggy. If I were you, I wouldn't mention the Importing Company in his presence again."

"I won't."

"If he brings up the subject, treat it in an off-handed way, and try to convince him that everything is all right, and that you were fooling when you spoke about squeezing out those other people."

"Trust me to smooth it over—if I get the chance," responded Nuggy. "But I wish I could get hold of that letter he intends to send."

The next day slipped by without the young lieutenant and Polk coming into contact with each other. Gilbert had several important duties to attend to, and only saw Nuggy from a distance. In the evening Gilbert sat down in the cabin to write the letter to Ralph Branders.

It was no easy task to compose the epistle, for the young lieutenant hardly knew how to introduce the