The tense eagerness in his voice might have warned her, were it not

that she was shocked by the bitterness which welled up in her heart.

She was amazed by this introspective glimpse; it alarmed her; she must

convince herself, at all costs, that she had spoken truly.

Although the evidence she tendered was of dubious value, she strove to

advance her argument further.

"I have prized our friendship greatly, Dr. Christobal," she said,

speaking with a calm deliberateness that rang hollow in her own ears,

"so greatly that I am compelled to utter this protest. Now, to end a

distasteful controversy, let me tell you what I know to be true. When

the ship was stranded, and we all thought our only chance of safety was

to take to the boats, by a fluke, the accident of the moment, I was

left alone in the captain's cabin. The sea was breaking in through the

doorway, and it brought an odd relief to my over-burthened mind when I

endeavored to rescue the contents of a locker which, for some reason,

had been scattered on the floor previously. Among them I found some

letters. I think you will believe me when I say that I would not

consciously read another person's private correspondence. Just then, I

was hardly responsible for my actions, and I did happen to see and

grasp the meaning of a passage in a letter from Captain Courtenay's

sister which alluded to his affianced wife. It is not such a tragic

admission, is it? I would scarce have given it another thought were it

not for your manner this morning and your words last night. I paid no

heed at the time to the innuendo that I had come on deck to find

him--to waylay him, as I have heard men say when speaking of a type of

woman I despise. So I resolved to straighten out a stupid little

tangle. It would be ridiculous, in our present state of suspended

animation, to let such a slight thing mar our friendship."

Elsie, was indulging in that most delusive thing, self-persuasion. It

was not surprising, therefore, that she failed to note the unmixed

satisfaction with which Christobal listened.

"Am I forgiven, then?" he asked, with a new tenderness in his voice.

"Oh, yes, let us laugh at it."

"But--"

"Please let us talk of something more useful. I have a little plan,

and you might ask the captain if he approves of it. We have plenty of

strong canvas; what do you say if I set to work and cover in the

promenade deck, fore and aft as well as on both sides? Then, if the

Indians try to seize the ship, they would not be able to gain a

lodgment at so many points simultaneously. It would simplify the

defense, so to speak."




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