best he could with the
unbeautiful panorama of Long Island City, Greenpoint (which is anything
but green nowadays) and Williamsburgh. They had passed under the
far-flung spans of the three bridges, rounded Governor's Island and
headed down the Bay before he ventured to open the sliding door into
the entrance hall.

At the moment there was no one in the hall who knew him, nor upon the
stairway. He mounted unhindered. At the top he almost collided with
Domville, the meekest of Corinna's brethren.

"How are you?" said Evan affably.

Little Domville stood as if rooted to the deck, his face a study in
blank dismay. Then he turned without a sound, and scurried like a
rabbit down the saloon and out on the after deck, presumably to spread
the dreadful news. Evan chuckled.

Others in the saloon had recognised Evan. "Mister! Mister! Tell us a
story! You know. About the robbers in the cave. They was just going
to shoot Three-Fingered Pete for treachery!"

Evan reflected that he could hardly do better than take a leaf out of
Corinna's book, and protect himself with a rampart of children. So he
sat himself down and began, while they pressed close around:

"Well, Three-Fingered Pete was just about ready to give up when a shot
was heard at the mouth of the cave, and a clear young voice cried,
'Hold! in the name of the U. S. cavalry!'"

The door to the after deck opened and Domville returned with Corinna
and Dordess, the cynical one. Evan watched them without appearing to,
and laughed inwardly at their amazed expressions. His heart beat fast
at the sight of the red-haired girl. He told himself he hated her
now--but perhaps hate can accelerate the pace of a heart too.

For a moment the three remained by the door in consultation, then
Corinna and Domville went out on deck again, while Dordess came down
the saloon, not towards Evan but on the other side. Evan was not going
to let him pass in silence.

"How are you?" he called cheerfully.

Dordess sent him an ironical and courteous greeting. He had more
_savoir faire_ than the younger males of Corinna's family. He passed
out of sight behind the engine trunk.

"Gone to get the others," thought Evan.

But Dordess presently returned alone, and nothing happened. He went
back to the after deck. As the minutes passed, Evan grew anxious, not
knowing what they had in store for him, but he kept the story going.

Suddenly he saw the hump of Staten Island sweep aro