ing of a hackney-coach. But in my heart I knew
that the main reason for my bliss in boarding the Royal Christopher lay
in the closer intimacy it gave me with maid Marjorie. In the little
kingdom of the ship, where all in a sense were friends and adventurers
together, there was less than on land to remind me that for me to dream
myself her lover went far to prove me lunatic. So I was blithe to be
afloat again. As for Cornelys Jensen, we were to learn soon enough in
what direction lay his pleasure to be ploughing the high seas again.

CHAPTER XVI

I MAKE A DISCOVERY

I have been brief with our adventure so far, because it only began to be
adventurous after we had left the Cape leagues behind us. Up to that
time, though the voyage was full of wonders for me, it was but one
voyage with another for those who use the sea. But when the adventure
did begin it began briskly, and having once made a beginning it did not
make an end for long enough, nor without great changes of fortune. Yet
it began, as a big business often does begin, in a very little matter.
One night, somewhat late, Captain Amber wished for a word with Jensen.
Yet, as it was not the Dutchman's watch, and he might be sleeping,
Captain Amber bade me go to his cabin--for Jensen, being a man of
consideration upon the ship, had a cabin to himself--to see if he were
stirring, commanding me, however, if he were resting, not to arouse him.
Jensen's cabin lay amidships, and as I proceeded warily because of the
Captain's caution, I came to it quietly and listened at the door before
lifting my finger to knock. As I did so I noticed that the door was not
fastened. Whoever had drawn it to had not latched it, and it lay open
just a chink, through which a line of light showed from within. Thinking
that if I peeped through this chink I might learn if Jensen were astir
or no, I put my eye to it and saw what I saw.

The cabin was not a very large one, and though the lamp that swung from
the ceiling gave forth but a dim light, yet it was enough to enable me
to see very clearly all that there was to see. At the first blush,
indeed, there seemed to be nothing out of the way to witness. At the
further end of the cabin two men were sitting at a table together, with
a chart before them. Nearer to me, and in front of the men, a woman
stood, and held up for their inspection a piece of needlework. The two
men were Cornelys Jensen and William Hatchett; the woman was Barbara
Hat