"Captain Mayo is tackling a job of wrecking, offcoast," said Burkett,
"and I'm out of work just now and will go with him. I'll be a safe risk,
all right, out there."
"Does that go with you, Captain Mayo?"
"Yes, sir."
After the matter of bonds had been arranged before the commissioner, and
when Burkett walked down the street with Mayo, the latter stopped on a
corner.
"I'll have to leave you here, Burkett. I'm going aboard the schooner.
We're sailing."
"But how about your taking me?"
"I was willing to help you lie that much, Burkett. I knew you did not
intend to go with me."
"I don't want to put you in bad with anybody after this, Captain Mayo.
I need to keep away for a time where I won't be in danger of seeing
Fletcher Fogg. If I meet him while I'm frothing like this, I'll kill
him, even if it means the chair. Give me a lay aboard that steamer, no
matter how bad your prospects are, and I'll be square with you.
That's my man's word to you. I realize it isn't much of a word in your
estimation--but there are some promises I can keep. I propose to help
you get back at Fogg and his gang. That's reason enough for what I'm
doing," he pleaded, earnestly. "You ought to see that yourself. I'm just
as good a man with machinery as I am in the pilot-house. I won't set you
back any!"
"All right, Mr. Burkett, come along," agreed Mayo, curtly, without
enthusiasm.
There was a fair wind for their departure and Mayo headed the schooner
for Maquoit. The few words which Captain Candage had dropped in regard
to Rowley's state of mind worried Mayo. His little edifice of hope was
tottering to a fall, but the loss of the Ethel and May meant the last
push and utter ruin. He decided that he was in honor bound to preserve
the schooner for the uses of the men of Hue and Cry, even if it meant
abandonment of the Conomo and going back to fishing. Without that
craft they would be paupers once more.
The Ethel and May sneaked her way into Maquoit harbor--if a schooner
can be said to sneak. A breeze at nightfall fanned her along, and when
her killick went down, the rusty chain groaned querulously from her
hawse-hole.
Mayo rowed ashore and toiled his way up the little street to the widow's
cottage. He was ashamed to meet Polly Candage--ashamed with the feelings
of a strong man who has put out every effort and has failed. But,
somehow, he wanted to feel that sisterly grip of her hand and look down
into those encouraging gray eyes. He remembered that in times past
she had soothed and stimulated him. This time he did not come to her
expecting to get new courage for further effort; he had exhausted all
resources, he told himself. But in his bitter humiliation he needed the
companionship of a true friend--yes, he felt, almost, that she was now
the only friend he had left. His experiences with those whom he had
before looked on as friends had made him feel that he stood alone.