The Pagan Madonna - Page 79/141

"What's the matter, Flint?" asked Cunningham, observing the other's

abstraction.

"We have a visitor," answered Flint.

Cunningham spun his chair round and jumped to his feet.

"Miss Norman? Come in, come in! Anything you need?" he asked with lively

interest.

"I should like to ask you some questions, Mr. Cunningham."

"Oh! Well, if I can answer them, I will."

He looked significantly at his companions, who rose and left the house by

the starboard door.

"They can't keep away from him, can they?" said Flint, cynically.

"Slue-Foot has the come-hither, sure enough. I had an idea she'd be hiking

this way the first chance she got."

"You haven't the right dope this trip," replied Cleve. "The contract

reads: Hands off women and booze."

"Psalm-singing pirates! We'll be having prayers Sunday. But that woman is

my style."

"Better begin digging up a prayer if you've got that bug in your head. If

you make any fool play in that direction Cunningham will break you. I saw

you last night staring through the transom. Watch your step, Flint. I'm

telling you."

"But if she should happen to take a fancy to me, who shall say no?"

"Hate yourself, eh? There was liquor on your breath last night. Did you

bring some aboard?"

"What's that to you?"

"It's a whole lot to me, my bucko--to me and to the rest of the boys.

Cleigh will not prosecute us for piracy if we play a decent game until we

raise the Catwick. On old Van Dorn's tub we can drink and sing if we want

to. If Cunningham gets a whiff of your breath, when you've had it, you'll

get yours. Most of the boys have never done anything worse than apple

stealing. It was the adventure. All keyed up for war and no place to go,

and this was a kind of safety valve. Already half of them are beginning to

knock in the knees. Game, understand, but now worried about the future."

"A peg or two before turning in won't hurt anybody. I'm not touching it in

the daytime."

"Keep away from him when you do--that's all. We're depending on you and

Cunningham to pull through. If you two get to scrapping the whole business

will go blooey. If we play the game according to contract there's a big

chance of getting back to the States without having the sheriff on the

dock to meet us. But if you mess it up because an unexpected stroke put a

woman on board, you'll end up as shark bait."