civil or rude, excuse me. I can't feel any other
way until I know this. Ever since you were reported missing, I pictured
you in trouble, and I have been told not to worry about you. Do you
think I could avoid worrying?"

He met her eyes with a troubled stare, and he gulped at the expression
that had come into her face. She smiled at him still; and in the smile
was a depth of kindness and great pity that illy matched her words.

"Two days ago I should have cared little whether any one worried or not,
Captain," she said quietly. "Now I value your interest; yet I must tell
you that I am here entirely of my free will and remain here of my own
choice."

"And Leyden?" Barry choked it out.

"I have not seen him recently; but I hope to see him here very soon,
Captain." Again that wonderful pity glowed in Natalie's eyes and made
the puzzle more puzzling yet for Barry. Since he had first met her, he
had never seen anything so flattering to himself in her face as this;
yet it was utterly contrary to her expressed thoughts.

"And truly, I am glad to see you, Captain Barry," she added, "but for
your own safety and my own comfort I must beg of you not to remain here.
Every minute that you are away from your ship is vital to all of us."

"All of us? I dare say. But which of us?" he demanded. "I don't know a
thing about this muddle of motives, but I do know that my ship and
yourself are my two vital interests, Miss Sheldon. I will go immediately
if you will prove to me that you are really at liberty; that you are a
free agent and can leave this ship if you really want to. If that is so,
I have no further concern with your affairs."

The girl stepped out on deck without a word, but in her glorious eyes
beamed a light that Jack Barry would have given an eye to see with the
other. She walked down the gangway, turned to await him, then smiled
softly at him and said:

"There, Captain. Does that satisfy you? Let me tell you that I am
comfortable, quite safe, and wholly desirous of your good success and
happiness. Good-by now; I cannot keep you longer."

Jack Barry stumbled away towards the stockade like a man in a trance.
Here was mystery piled on mystery. Natalie Sheldon, at liberty on board
Leyden's schooner, happy and comfortable, yet being visited at midnight
by Mrs. Goring, friend of Leyden's fiercest foe, and wishing the
_Barang's_ skipper success and happiness!

Barry plunged straight along for the stockade gate.

C