"How are you making out, Newton?" he asked, calmly.
"Denny? Why, God bless me, boy, I'm glad to see you! How's your dad?"
"Reading."
"That would be like him. I don't suppose if hell opened under his feet
he'd do anything except look interested. And it 'pears to me's though hell
had opened up right now!"
A chuckle came from the chart table.
"What's your idea of hell, Newton?" asked Cunningham.
"Anything you might have a hand in," was the return bolt.
"Why, you used to like me!"
"Yes, yes! But I didn't know you then. The barometer's dropping. If it was
August I'd say we were nosing into a typhoon. I always hated this yellow
muck they call a sea over here. Did you pick up that light?"
"Yes, sir," answered the wheelman. "I take it she's making
south--Hong-Kong way. There's plenty of sea room. She'll be well down
before we cross her wake."
Silence except for the rumble of the weather canvas standing up against
the furious blasts of the wind. Dennison stepped over to the chart table.
"Cunningham, I would like to have a word with you."
"Go ahead. You can have as many as you like."
"At dinner you spoke of your word."
"So I did. What about it?"
"Do you keep it?"
"Whenever I humanly can. Well?"
"What's this Catwick Island?"
"Hanged if I know!"
"Are you going to maroon us there?"
"No. At that point the yacht will be turned back to your father, and he
can cruise until the crack o' doom without further interference from yours
truly."
"That's your word?"
"It is--and I will keep it. Anything else?"
"Yes. I will play the game as it lies, provided that Miss Norman is in
nowise interfered with or annoyed."
"How is she taking it?"
"My reply first."
"Neither I nor the crew will bother her. She shall come and go free as the
gull in the air. If at any time the men do not observe the utmost
politeness toward her you will do me a favour to report to me. That's my
word, and I promise to keep it, even if I have to kill a man or two. I
wish to come through clean in the hands so far as your father, Miss
Norman, and yourself are concerned. I'm risking my neck and my liberty,
for this is piracy on the high seas. But every man is entitled to one good
joke during his lifetime, and when we raise the Catwick I'll explain this
joke in full. If you don't chuckle, then you haven't so much as a grain of
humour in your make-up."