rms,
kissing her on the lips and soothing her with rough, kindly whispers.

Barry felt the general stress and knew that it was not yet time for
further questions. He knew that much remained a mystery; and much would
doubtless be cleared up in the good time of these two inscrutable
Dutchmen. He dully wondered just who or what Mrs. Goring could be, for
he had seen three men successively take her in a warm embrace, with no
sign of resentment in either. He simply left it with the rest to be
explained, and felt a swift and grateful glow pervade him in the close
and confident proximity of Natalie, who had relaxed with a little shiver
into his arms, her fair face hiding its trouble on his breast, her sunny
hair caressing his cheek.

"Come, Captain, let me take her below," said Mrs. Goring at length,
coming forward with her own brave face composed to calmness. "She will
soon get over this experience now that it is finished."

Barry helped Natalie inside the companionway, and as Mrs. Goring took
her in charge, the girl lifted her face to Barry and gave him a wan
smile that nevertheless carried its message to him. He, all unversed in
such matters, suddenly found knowledge and stooped to kiss her lips;
then as suddenly restrained himself, with all the past in his mind, and
pressed his kiss on her hand instead. Mrs. Goring seemed to flash
approval to him, then took her charge to her cabin, leaving the skipper
to rejoin the men and gather up the remaining threads of the situation.

Over on the creek shore Houten's launch was taking on board Rolfe and
Little and their party, having returned for them after seeing Leyden's
men secured. Farther along the bank a party of naval seamen were waiting
for a big steam pinnace speeding up the river from its downstream
concealment. Leyden's own steam launch had been commandeered into the
service, and was taking up the scattered guards from the farther bank;
somewhere in the blue and yellow haze of the sea beyond the river
sounded the hoarse, prolonged blast of a steamship's siren; and Houten
was giving expert first aid to the knife-cut in Vandersee's shoulder,
while that stolid individual insisted in shame-tinged gutturals that it
was nothing.

"Here iss the captain now," rumbled Houten as Barry appeared. "In a
leedle while we are reatty to leave, yes. If you can hoist oop Leyden's
launch und make t'ings snug for sea, my boat und Hendrik's will be taken
oop by der gunboat now oudside waitin