l on the other. And after the first
wrench of his surprise, he knew it was hopeless to struggle, and stood
quietly. Mark strolled across the deck, smiling coldly.

"If you'll not go, Joel, you must be taken," he said. And to the mates:
"Bring back his arms."

Joel felt the cord slipped through his elbows and drawn tight and looped
and made secure. Old Aaron Burnham pushed forward and tugged at them; and
Joel heard him say: "They'll hold him fast, Captain Shore. Like a trussed
fowl, sir. That he is...."

"Captain Shore?" That would be Mark, come into command of the ship again.
And Aaron added: "I've set the bolt on his cabin door, sir. Not five
minutes gone."

Mark laughed. "Good enough, Aaron. You and Varde take him down. Varde,
you'll stay in the after cabin. If he tries to get free, summon me.
And--treat Mrs. Shore with the utmost courtesy."

Varde was at Joel's side; and Joel saw the twist of his smile at Mark's
last word. For a moment, thought of Priss left Joel sick. He thrust the
thought aside....

They took him down into the main cabin; Varde ahead, then Joel, and old
Aaron close behind, his hand on Joel's elbow. Priss met them in the after
cabin, crouching in a corner, white and still, her hands at her throat.
Her eyes met his for an instant, before Varde led him toward his own
cabin. Aaron, behind, looked toward Priss; and the girl whispered
hoarsely:

"Is he--hurt?"

"He is not," said Aaron grimly. "We were most gentle with the man; and he
made no struggle at all...."

Varde thrust Joel into the little cabin where his bunk was; and Joel
heard the snick of a new-set bolt on the outer side of the door. He was
alone, bound fast....

Before he left the deck, he had heard Mark cry an order to the man at the
wheel. The telltale in the after cabin ceiling told him the _Nathan Ross_
had changed her course again ... for Mark's island.... In the face of
men, he had held himself steady and calm.... But now, alone in his cabin,
he strained at his bonds, lips cracking over set teeth. He strained and
tugged.... Hopeless....

No! Not hopeless! He felt them yield a little, a little more.... Then,
with a tiny snap of sound, the coils were loose, and he shook the cords
down over his wrists and hands. He caught them as they fell across his
fingers, lest the sound of their fall might warn Varde, in the cabin
outside his door; and--he was still stupefied by the surprise of this
deliverance--he lifted the broken bond