The Pagan Madonna - Page 88/141

"I suppose I'm on the rack; nerves all raw; tearing me to pieces to sit

down and twiddle my thumbs. Will you forgive me?"

"Of course I will! I understand. You are all anxious about me.

Theoretically, this yacht is a volcano, and you're trying to keep me from

kicking off the lid. But I've an idea that the lid will stay on tightly if

we make believe we are Mr. Cunningham's guests. But it is almost

impossible to suspect that anything is wrong. Whenever a member of the

crew comes in sight he is properly polite, just as he would be on a liner.

If I do go to the bridge again I'll give you warning. Good-night, Mr.

Cleigh, I'll read to you in the morning. Good-night--Denny."

Cleigh, sighing contentedly, dipped his fingers into the finger bowl and

brushed his lips.

The son drank a cup of coffee hastily, lit his pipe, and went on deck. He

proceeded directly to the chart house.

"Cunningham, I'll swallow my pride and ask a favour of you."

"Ah!"--in a neutral tone.

"The cook tells me that all the wine and liquor are in the dry-stores

compartment. Will you open it and let me chuck the stuff overboard?"

"No," said Cunningham, promptly. "When I turn this yacht back to your

father not a single guy rope will be out of order. It would be a fine

piece of work to throw all those rare vintages over the rail simply to

appease an unsubstantial fear on your part! No!"

"But if the men should break in? And it would be easy, because it is

nearer them than us."

"Thank your father for building the deck like a city flat. But if the boys

should break in, there's the answer," said Cunningham, laying his

regulation revolver on the chart table. "And every mother's son of them

knows it."

"You refuse?"

"Yes."

"All right. But if anything happens I'll be on top of you, and all the

bullets in that clip won't stop me."

"Captain, you bore me. Your father and the girl are good sports. You ought

to be one. I've given you the freedom of the yacht for the girl's sake

when caution bids me dump you into the brig. I begin to suspect that your

misfortunes are due to a violent temper. Run along with your thunder; I

don't want you hurt."

"If I come through this alive----"

"You'll join your dad peeling off my hide--if you can catch me!"