journey or thereabouts."

"Do you know this island?"

"I have never seen it."

"Then why sail thither?"

"'Tis thereabouts Penfeather would meet with us again if he may."

"And being there, what then?"

"God knoweth!"

Here was silence again save for the creak of mast and timbers as we
rose to the gentle swell and the ripple of water 'neath our keel, while
the sun, high risen, blazed down from the blue, his fierce beams
tempered by the cool, sweet wind.

"Are you hungry, Martin?"

"Is there aught to eat?"

"Plenty!" So saying she opened one of the lockers and brought thence a
loaf of fine white bread, a neat's tongue, a flask of wine, and a small
barrico of water, upon which I, for one, made an excellent meal. Which
done, she sets all things away again, very orderly, and sits elbow on
knee, staring away into the distance and with her back to me.
Hereupon, I opened the stern-locker and found therein a couple of
musquetoons, a brace of pistols, a sword with belt and hangers, and
divers kegs of powder and ball.

"How came you lying stunned in the boat?" says my companion at last,
but without turning her head.

"By roguery!" I answered. "But how and when did the mutiny start?"

"'Twas when we went to fetch the boy, my little page, Marjorie and I.
He lay hurt and crying on the deck; so we ran out to him and took him
up betwixt us, and then I heard shouts and rush of feet, and they were
all about us--drunken men singing and dancing. And they struggled with
us till came Master Penfeather, with Godby and others, and after much
bitter fighting brought us away. But Marjorie, my dear, faithful
Marjorie, had taken a blow aimed at me and died ... in my arms ... And
the great cabin choking with powder-smoke ... and wounded men who cried
and shouted. My dear, brave Marjorie! With the dark the fight began
again, and twice I feared they would break in upon us. Then Master
Adam brought me into the stern-gallery and lowered me into the boat
where I might lie secure, and so got him back into the battle. But in a
little I saw a hand in the gloom cutting at the tow-rope, and I
screamed, but none heard. And so the boat drifted away, and with the
dawn I found you lying under a boat-cloak."

When she had done, I sat awhile staring up at the peak of the sail:

"My Lady Brandon," says I at length, "Fate hath set you in scurvy
company, for I am an ill rogue, very rough and rude-mannered, and no
fit company for any woma