Mayo saw the uselessness of further appeal, and the fellow dangled as
limply as a stuffed dummy when the young man shook him. Therefore Mayo
gave over his efforts and hurried back to the long-boat. The spectacle
of the girl struggling with the stuff she was jettisoning put new
determination into him. Her amazing fortitude at the time when he had
looked for hysterics and collapse gave him new light on the enigma of
femininity.
"Did you tell me that Bradish is ill?" he asked, hurriedly.
"He is in the cabin. He would not talk to me. I could not induce him to
come on deck."
"I must have help with the tackle," he told her, and started aft on the
run.
He found Bradish sprawled in a morris-chair which was lashed to a
radiator. He expected hot words and more insults, but Bradish turned to
him a face that was gray with evident terror. His jaw sagged; his eyes
appealed.
"This is awful!" he mourned. "What has happened on deck? I heard the
fighting. Where is Miss Mar-ston?"
"She is forward. There has been an accident--a bad one. We have lost the
captain and crew. Come on. I need help."
"I can't help. I'm all in!" groaned Bradish.
"I say you must. It's the only way to save our lives."
Bradish rolled his head on the back of the chair, refusing. His manner,
his sudden change from the fighting mood, astonished Mayo. The thought
came to him that this man had been pricked to conflict by bitter grudge
instead of by his courage.
"Look here, Bradish, aren't you going to help me save that girl?"
"I'm not a sailor. There's nothing I can do."
"But you've got two hands, man. I want to get a boat overboard. Hurry!"
"No, no! I wouldn't get into a small boat with these waves so high. It
wouldn't be safe."
"This schooner is sinking!" shouted Mayo. He fastened a heavy clutch
upon Bradish's shoulders. "There's no time to argue this thing. You come
along!"
He hauled Bradish to his feet and propelled him to the companionway,
and the man went without resistance. It was evident that real danger and
fear of death had nearly paralyzed him.
"There's nothing I can do!" he kept bleating.
But Mayo hurried him forward.
"Ralph!" cried the girl, fairly lashing him with the tone in which she
delivered the word. "What is the matter with you?"