steward, to come along as maid to his
bride. But for some reason or other this arrangement was not continued.
And the mate, tormented by indefinite alarms and forebodings, regretted
it. He regretted that Jane Brown was no longer on board--as a sort of
representative of Captain Anthony's faithful servants, to watch quietly
what went on in that part of the ship this fatal marriage had closed to
their vigilance. That had been excellent. For she was a dependable
woman.

Powell did not detect any particular excellence in what seemed a spying
employment. But in his simplicity he said that he should have thought
Mrs. Anthony would have been glad anyhow to have another woman on board.
He was thinking of the white-faced girlish personality which it seemed to
him ought to have been cared for. The innocent young man always looked
upon the girl as immature; something of a child yet.

"She! glad! Why it was she who had her fired out. She didn't want
anybody around the cabin. Mrs. Brown is certain of it. She told her
husband so. You ask the steward and hear what he has to say about it.
That's why I don't like it. A capable woman who knew her place. But no.
Out she must go. For no fault, mind you. The captain was ashamed to
send her away. But that wife of his--aye the precious pair of them have
got hold of him. I can't speak to him for a minute on the poop without
that thimble-rigging coon coming gliding up. I'll tell you what. I
overheard once--God knows I didn't try to--only he forgot I was on the
other side of the skylight with my sextant--I overheard him--you know how
he sits hanging over her chair and talking away without properly opening
his mouth--yes I caught the word right enough. He was alluding to the
captain as "the jailer." The jail . . . !"

Franklin broke off with a profane execration. A silence reigned for a
long time and the slight, very gentle rolling of the ship slipping before
the N.E. trade-wind seemed to be a soothing device for lulling to sleep
the suspicions of men who trust themselves to the sea.

A deep sigh was heard followed by the mate's voice asking dismally if
that was the way one would speak of a man to whom one wished well? No
better proof of something wrong was needed. Therefore he hoped, as he
vanished at last, that Mr. Powell would be on their side. And this time
Mr. Powell did not answer this hope with an embarrassed laugh.

That young officer was more and more surprise