co," said Moran. "You're making no money this way. There are no
shark to be caught. SOMETHING'S wrong. They're gone away somewhere. The
crew are eating their heads off and not earning enough money to pay for
their keep. What do you think?"

"I tinkum yas."

"Then we'll go home. Is that it?"

"I tinkum yas--to-molla."

"To-morrow?"

"Yas."

"That's settled then," persisted Moran, surprised at his ready
acquiescence; "we start home to-morrow?" Charlie nodded.

"To-molla," he said.

The rudder was not so badly damaged as they had at first supposed; the
break was easily mended, but it was found necessary for one of the men
to go over the side.

"Get over the side here, Jim," commanded Moran. "Charlie, tell him
what's wanted; we can't work the pintle in from the deck."

But Charlie shook his head.

"Him no likee go; him plenty much flaid."

Moran ripped out an oath.

"What do I care if he's afraid! I want him to shove the pintle into
the lower gudgeon. My God," she exclaimed, with immense contempt, "what
carrion! I'd sooner work a boat with she-monkeys. Mr. Wilbur, I shall
have to ask you to go over. I thought I was captain here, but it all
depends on whether these rats are afraid or not."

"Plenty many shark," expostulated Charlie. "Him flaid shark come back,
catchum chop-chop."

"Stand by here with a couple of cutting-in spades," cried Moran, "and
fend off if you see any shark; now, then, are you ready, mate?"

Wilbur took his determination in both hands, threw off his coat and
sandals, and went over the stern rail.

"Put your ear to the water," called Moran from above; "sometimes you can
hear their flukes."

It took but a minute to adjust the pintle, and Wilbur regained the deck
again, dripping and a little pale. He knew not what horrid form of death
might have been lurking for him down below there underneath the kelp.
As he started forward for dry clothes he was surprised to observe that
Moran was smiling at him, holding out her hand.

"That was well done," she said, "and thank you. I've seen older
sailor-men than you who wouldn't have taken the risk." Never before
had she appeared more splendid in his eyes than at this moment. After
changing his clothes in the fo'castle, he sat for a long time, his chin
in his hands, very thoughtful. Then at length, as though voicing the
conclusion of his reflections, said aloud, as he rose to his feet:

"But, of course, THAT is out of the question."

He rem