terly; and
quitted her side abruptly, as if to give orders to the crew.

Elizabeth remained standing where she was, utterly puzzled. What could
there possibly have been in what she had said to offend him? and
offended he certainly was by the tone of voice in which he was giving
his orders, and the expression of his face as he stood there by the
wheel with his hand in the breast of his pea-jacket--she felt certain it
was clenched there. It was really too unreasonable--the idea of his
being jealous of a ship! This uncertainty about every word she spoke now
was getting absolutely insupportable, and with a toss of her head she
determined that she would stand it no longer, but would speak her mind
to him once for all, whether it should lead to a scene or not.

No opportunity, however, for carrying out her intention occurred during
the remainder of the afternoon. There appeared to be bad weather coming
up, and many of the sails had to be taken in; and afterwards he paced up
and down by the round-house forward for a couple of hours, purposely, as
she could see, avoiding her. The crew apparently had an impression, too,
that it was as well to keep out of his way, as they left him that side
of the deck to himself, and stood talking in knots about the capstan,
with their oilskin coats and sou'westers on, in anticipation of dirty
weather, and casting anxious glances from time to time at the banks of
cloud that were rolling up darkly from the horizon to leeward, and
sending already a whine through the old rigging above them. They waited
impatiently for the word to take in more sail, as it was obvious that
they must go with storm sails only for the night.

It was only at the last moment apparently that Salve made up his mind,
for when he suddenly shouted over to them to take in topsails and put a
couple of reefs in the mainsail, the storm was already upon them. He
sprang aft at the same time and seized the trumpet, saying shortly and
harshly to Elizabeth as he passed her hurriedly, and almost without
looking at her--

"This is not weather for sitting up on deck, Elizabeth. You had better
take the child below and lie down."

Elizabeth saw that he was right, and went; but there was a look of
pained surprise in her face as she lingered for a moment and looked
after him. He had never spoken to her like that before.

The crew had supposed that he would of course keep away and run before
the gale, and not strain the old brig by beati