y had
connections which would put such paying jobs in his way. So Flora de
Barral had but a five months' voyage, a mere excursion, for her first
trial of sea-life. And Anthony, clearly trying to be most attentive,
had induced this Mrs Brown, the wife of his faithful steward, to come
along as maid to his bride. But for some reason or other this
arrangement was not continued. And the mate, tormented by indefinite
alarms and forebodings, regretted it. He regretted that Jane Brown was
no longer on board--as a sort of representative of Captain Anthony's
faithful servants, to watch quietly what went on in that part of the
ship this fatal marriage had closed to their vigilance. That had been
excellent. For she was a dependable woman.

Powell did not detect any particular excellence in what seemed a spying
employment. But in his simplicity he said that he should have thought
Mrs Anthony would have been glad anyhow to have another woman on board.
He was thinking of the white-faced girlish personality which it seemed
to him ought to have been cared for. The innocent young man always
looked upon the girl as immature; something of a child yet.

"She! glad! Why it was she who had her fired out. She didn't want
anybody around the cabin. Mrs Brown is certain of it. She told her
husband so. You ask the steward and hear what he has to say about it.
That's why I don't like it. A capable woman who knew her place. But
no. Out she must go. For no fault, mind you. The captain was ashamed
to send her away. But that wife of his--ay the precious pair of them
have got hold of him. I can't speak to him for a minute on the poop
without that thimble-rigging coon coming gliding up. I'll tell you
what. I overheard once--God knows. I didn't try to, only he forgot I
was on the other side of the skylight with my sextant--I overheard him--
you know how he sits hanging over her chair and talking away without
properly opening his mouth--yes I caught the word right enough. He was
alluding to the captain as `the jailer.' The jail!"

Franklin broke off with a profane execration. A silence reigned for a
long time and the slight, very gentle rolling of the ship slipping
before the N.E. trade-wind seemed to be a soothing device for lulling to
sleep the suspicions of men who trust themselves to the sea.

A deep sigh was heard followed by the mate's voice asking dismally if
that was the way one would speak of a man to whom one wished