n offered had its
appeal. But the girl stood directly in the way. What Henley meant to
do with her was problematical--I had not thought to ask--but he either
intended putting her ashore in Honduras, or else holding her prisoner
on board until the _Sea Gull_ returned North. Either contingency was
bad enough, and the suspicion flashed suddenly across me that the final
decision would depend on how kindly she might receive the attentions of
the Captain. Nor did I question the result. I had not known the lady
long, but, in that brief time, our relations had been sufficiently
intimate to yield me a good insight into her womanly character. There
would be no yielding, no compromise. Neither threats nor promises
would change her attitude in the least. Not only did she know the
fellow to be a lying knave, but he was not of the sort to ever
influence her in the slightest degree. I could imagine how she would
look at him, with those searching eyes burning in indignation, and her
instant squelching of his first protestations. There would be no need
of my help to repel the insults of such a beast. But afterwards there
would, for I realized also what he would become after such a repulse--a
cold, sneering Nemesis, revengeful, ready to crush even a woman
remorselessly. And he possessed the power, the means to make that
revenge complete. I felt my teeth lock, my hands clinch in sudden
anger. Perhaps I could accomplish little in her defense, but I
intended to be free to do that little. Whatever fate might be in store
for us, that sneering, olive-hued devil should receive his deserts if
ever he attempted wrong to her. That had become the one purpose of my
heart, for I realized here skulked the real danger, the deeper peril of
our situation.

I may have remained there for a quarter of an hour, motionless,
thinking over every incident, and reviewing carefully, and in detail,
the various happenings which had led to our present condition. The
only result was to enlist me yet more strongly to her service.
Believing her statement I could see nothing in her conduct to
criticize, and she appealed to me in all womanhood. I would be a
dastard to doubt, or desert, her cause now, and the warm blood throbbed
in my veins responsive to the memory of what had already been between
us. No one disturbed me, the Captain was still in his stateroom,
where, once or twice, I imagined I heard him pacing the floor. The
steward had apparently re