When he finished, he held it out to me.

"I've got my crew," he said curtly.

"There isn't--I suppose there's no chance of your needing another

hand?"

"No." He turned away, then glanced back at the letter I was still

holding, rather dazed. "You can leave your name and address with

the mate over there. If anything turns up he'll let you know."

My address! The hospital?

I folded the useless letter and thrust it into my pocket. The

captain had gone forward, and the girl with the cool eyes was leaning

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against the rail, watching me.

"You are the man Mr. McWhirter has been looking after, aren't you?"

"Yes." I pulled off my cap, and, recollecting myself--"Yes, miss."

"You are not a sailor?"

"I have had some experience--and I am willing."

"You have been ill, haven't you?"

"Yes--miss."

"Could you polish brass, and things like that?"

"I could try. My arms are strong enough. It is only when I walk--"

But she did not let me finish. She left the rail abruptly, and

disappeared down the companionway into the after house. I waited

uncertainly. The captain saw me still loitering, and scowled. A

procession of men with trunks jostled me; a colored man, evidently a

butler, ordered me out of his way while he carried down into the

cabin, with almost reverent care, a basket of wine.

When the girl returned, she came to me, and stood for a moment,

looking me over with cool, appraising eyes. I had been right about

her appearance: she was charming--or no, hardly charming. She was

too aloof for that. But she was beautiful, an Irish type, with

blue-gray eyes and almost black hair. The tilt of her head was

haughty. Later I came to know that her hauteur was indifference:

but at first I was frankly afraid of her, afraid of her cool,

mocking eyes and the upward thrust of her chin.

"My brother-in-law is not here," she said after a moment, "but my

sister is below in the cabin. She will speak to the captain about

you. Where are your things?"

I glanced toward the hospital, where my few worldly possessions,

including my dress clothes, my amputating set, and such of my books

as I had not been able to sell, were awaiting disposition. "Very

near, miss," I said.

"Better bring them at once; we are sailing in the morning." She

turned away as if to avoid my thanks, but stopped and came back.

"We are taking you as a sort of extra man," she explained. "You

will work with the crew, but it is possible that we will need you--

do you know anything about butler's work?"

I hesitated. If I said yes, and then failed-"I could try."




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