The After House - Page 55/108

With the approach of night our vigilance was doubled. There was no

thought of sleep among the crew, and, with the twilight, there was

a distinct return of the terror of the morning.

Gathered around the wheel, the crew listened while Jones read evening

prayer. Between the two houses, where the deck was roped off, Miss

Lee was alone, pacing back and-forward, her head bent, her arms

dropped listlessly.

The wind had gone, and the sails hung loose over our heads. I stood

by the port rail. Although my back was toward Miss Lee, I was

conscious of her every movement; and so I knew when she stooped under

the rope and moved lightly toward the starboard rail.

Quick as she was, I was quicker. There was still light enough to

see her face as she turned when I called to her: "Miss Lee You must not leave the rope."

"Must not?"

"I am sorry to seem arbitrary. It is for your own safety."

I was crossing the deck toward her as I spoke. I knew what she was

going to do. I believe, when she saw my face, that she read my

knowledge in it. She turned back from the rail and faced me.

"Surely I may go to the rail!"

"It would be unwise, if for no other reason than discipline."

"Discipline! Are you trying to discipline me?"

"Miss Lee, you do not seem to understand," I said, as patiently as

I could. "Just now I am in charge of the Ella. It does not matter

how unfit I am--the fact remains. Nor does it concern me that your

brother-in-law owns the ship. I am in charge of it, and, God willing,

there will be no more crimes on it. You will go back to the part of

the deck that is reserved for you, or you will go below and stay

there."

She flushed with anger, and stood there with her head thrown back,

eyeing me with a contempt that cut me to the quick. The next moment

she wheeled and, raising her hand, flung toward the rail the key to

the storeroom door. I caught her hand--too late.

But fate was on my side, after all. As I stood, still gripping her

wrist, the key fell ringing almost at my feet. It had struck one of

the lower yard braces. I stooped, and, picking it up, pocketed it.

She was dazed, I think. She made no effort to free her arm, but she

put her other hand to her heart unexpectedly, and I saw that she was

profoundly shocked. I led her, unprotesting, to a deck-chair, and

put her down in it; and still she had not spoken: She lay back and

closed her eyes. She was too strong to faint; she was superbly

healthy. But she knew as well as I did what that key meant, and she

had delivered it into my hands. As for me, I was driven hard that

night; for, as I stood there looking down at her, she held out her

hand to me, palm up.