he shell. The
MacLeans were ne'er pirates, ye ken. They are honest men and
kirkgoers--though I'll no pretend in the old days they didna' lift a
beastie or so.

"I talked up to Carew's face, an' told him a MacLean could no approve
such work, an' I told him the MacLeans were better folk than he, for
all his high head. Ye ken, lad, the MacLeans are the best folk o'
Scotland. When Noah came oot the ark, 'twas the MacLeans met him and
helped him to dry land.

"On Puka Puka beach he dumped me, wi'oot my dunnage, and wi'oot a cent
o' the siller was due me. Och, he is a bad mon, yon Carew, wi' many a
mon's blood on his hands! He has sold his soul to the deil, and Old
Nick saves his own. He is a wild mon wi' women, and he is mad aboot
the sweet lassie aft. Didna' he try to make off wi' her in Dutch
Harbor, three years ago? And didna' the old mon stop him wi' a bullet
through the shoulder? And now he tries again in Frisco!

"The lass blooms fairer each day--and Carew's madness grows. Ye'll
meet him again, lad, if you stay wi' the ship. Wi' Old Nick to help
him, 'tis black fortune he'll bring to the lass, ye'll see." And Sails
would croak out dismal prophecies concerning Wild Bob Carew's future
activities, so long as Martin would listen.

Indeed, the adventurer of the schooner _Dawn_ was ever present in the
thoughts of the brig's complement. He was a real and menacing shadow;
even Martin was affected by the lowering cloud. The old hands in the
crew all knew him personally, and knew of his mad infatuation for their
beloved mate. In the cabin, it was accepted that he would cross their
path again, though it was hoped that Fire Mountain would be reached and
the treasure secured before that event occurred. But, save for an
ever-growing indignation against the haughty Englishman, for daring to
aspire to Ruth LeMoyne's hand, Martin gave the matter small thought; he
was too busy living the moment.

Concurrent with his education in seamanship, progressed Martin's
instruction in the subtle and disquieting game of hearts. Ruth
attended to this particular instruction unconsciously, perhaps, but
none the less effectively.

Of course, it was inevitable. When a romantic-minded young man aids in
the thrilling rescue of an imprisoned maid, that young man is going to
look upon that young woman with more than passing interest. When the
maid in question happens to be extremely pretty, his interest is
naturally enhanced.