decided to go fetch the pearls."

XIII

When Priss, through the crack in the door, heard what Mark had said, she
shut the door of her cabin soundlessly, and crouched against it,
listening. She was trembling....

There was a long moment when no one of the men in the after cabin spoke.
Then big Jim Finch said suavely: "That is to say, if Captain Shore does
not object."

Joel asked then: "What if I do object?"

Mark laughed. "If you do object, why--we'll just go anyway. But you'll
have no share."

And surly Varde added: "We'd as soon you did object."

Mark bade him be quiet. "That's not true, Joel," he said. "You know, I
wanted you in this, from the first. Your coming in will--prevent
complications. With you in, the whole matter is very simple, and safe....
But without you, we will be forced to take measures that may
be--reprehensible."

Joel did not speak; and Priss, trembling against the door, thought
bitterly: "He's afraid.... He said, himself, that he is afraid...."

Dick Morrell begged eagerly: "Please, Captain Shore. There's a fortune
for all of us. Mr. Worthen would tell you to do it...."

Joel said then: "I told Mark Shore in the beginning that I would not risk
my ship. The enterprise is not lawful. The pearls were stolen in the
beginning; murder hung around them. Bad luck would follow them--and there
are blacks on the island to prevent our finding them, in any case."

"There's no harm in going to see," Morrell urged.

"'Tis far out of our proper way. Wasted time. And--the men should be
thinking of oil, not of pearls."

Mark laughed. "That may be," he agreed. "But the men's thoughts are
already on the pearls. They've no mind for whaling, Joel. They've no mind
for it."

"I'm doubtful that what you say is true."

His brother snapped angrily: "Do you call me liar?"

"No," said Joel gently. "You were never one to lie, Mark." And Priss,
listening, winced at the thing that was like apology in his tone. She
heard Mark laugh again, aloud; and she heard the fat chuckle of Jim
Finch. Then Mark said:

"It's well you remember that. So.... Will you go with us; or do we go
without you?"

There was a long moment of silence before Joel answered. At last he said:
"You're making to spill blood on the _Nathan Ross_, Mark. I've no mind
for that. I'll not have it--if I can stop it. So ... I'll consider this
matter, to-night, and give you your answer in the morning."

"You'll answer now," Varde said sull