, leaving no trace. At least, no trace I
could discover. But when I looked for him, I became conscious of a new
attitude towards me on the part of my shipmates. I had been their
mate, in a way their leader and champion. Now, by virtue of Lynch's
word--and Newman's--I was their boss. I was no longer one of them.
Aye, and sailorlike they showed it by their reserve. They said
truthfully enough they did not know what had become of Cockney--and
they kept their guesses to themselves. But my own guess was as good,
and as true. Boston and Blackie had attended to Cockney. I could
imagine how. A knife across the windpipe and a boost over the side;
without doubt some such fate was Cockney's.

Mister Lynch made no effort to put the ship on her course. We left the
yards as they were, and drifted all the rest of the night. I, and the
unwounded tradesmen, kept the deck; in the cabin, the lady and Newman
labored, and conferred with Lynch and Holy Joe. Aye, Holy Joe, as well
as myself, was lifted to higher estate by that night's happenings. He
lived aft, even as I, the rest of the voyage, and was doctor of bodies
as well as souls.

Near dawn, they called me into the cabin, and put dead man's shoes upon
my feet, so to speak.

"Shreve, it is my duty to take the ship into port," says Lynch. "What
will be the outcome of tonight's work, I do not know. But I do not
fear. My testimony, and that of the sailmakers and carpenters, to say
nothing of your story, and the stories of the other men forward, will
be more than sufficient to convince any court of justice. There will
be no jailing because of to-night's trouble--you may tell the men that."

"Yes, sir," I replied. Aye, it was good news to take forward to the
poor shaking wretches in the foc'sle.

"You understand, I am captain for the remainder of the passage," Lynch
went on. "And I have decided to appoint you chief mate. Connolly will
be second mate."

Aye, that was it. Jack Shreve, chief mate of the _Golden Bough_! "I
have decided," says Lynch--but I knew the decision belonged to Newman
and the lady, who were smiling at me across the table.

"And you understand--they are leaving in the longboat," added Lynch.

I looked at my friend, and the lady, and my new honor was bitter and
worthless in my mouth.

"Take me with you," I urged.

"To share an outlaw's career? No, lad--we must go alone," said Newman.
I remember he added to Lynch, "If this boy proves the f