"No. And the more I look at it, the more I am convinced that you came on

board of your own volition. You had two or three good opportunities to

call for assistance."

"You believe that?"

"I've as much right to believe that as you have that Cunningham will keep

his word."

"Oh!" she cried, but it was an outburst of anger. And it had a peculiar

twist, too. She was furious because both father and son were partly

correct; and yet there was no diminution of that trust she was putting in

Cunningham. "Next you'll be hinting that I'm in collusion with him!"

"No. Only he is an extraordinarily fascinating rogue, and you are wearing

the tinted goggles of romance."

Fearing that she might utter something regrettable, she flew down the port

passage and entered her cabin, where she remained until dinner. She spent

the intervening hours endeavouring to analyze the cause of her temper, but

the cause was as elusive as quicksilver. Why should she trust Cunningham?

What was the basis of this trust? He had, as Denny said, broken the law of

the sea. Was there a bit of black sheep in her, and was the man calling to

it? And this perversity of hers might create an estrangement between her

and Denny; she must not let that happen. The singular beauty of the man's

face, his amazing career, and his pathetic deformity--was that it?

* * * * *

"Where's the captain?" asked Cunningham, curiously, as he noted the vacant

chair at the table that night.

"On deck, I suppose."

"Isn't he dining to-night?"--an accent of suspicion creeping into his

voice. "He isn't contemplating making a fool of himself, is he? He'll get

hurt if he approaches the wireless."

"Togo," broke in Cleigh, "bring the avocats and the pineapple."

Cunningham turned upon him with a laugh.

"Cleigh, when I spin this yarn some day I'll carry you through it as the

man who never batted an eye. I can see now how you must have bluffed Wall

Street out of its boots."

When Cunningham saw that Jane was distrait he made no attempt to pull her

out of it. He ate his dinner, commenting only occasionally. Still, he bade

her a cheery good-night as he returned to the chart house, where he stayed

continually, never quite certain what old Captain Newton might do to the

wheel and the compass if left alone too long.

Dennison came in immediately after Cunningham's departure and contritely

apologized to Jane for his rudeness.




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