und into view
through the stern windows, and the Statue of Liberty passed by on the
port side. A few minutes before they had left it to starboard. Wails
began to be raised in the cabin. "Oh! We're going back again! What's
the matter? I don't want to go back!" No need for Evan to ask himself
then what they were going to do.

He saw his opportunity when Corinna appearing in the saloon, stopped to
pacify a crying child near the door. Dordess was on the other side of
the saloon. Going to Corinna's side Evan said softly:

"I suppose you're going back to put me ashore."

She did not answer.

He said in the same tone: "Corinna, I will not submit to such a
humiliation a second time."

"You have brought it on yourself," she answered without looking at him.

"Just the same I will not submit to it."

"What are you going to do about it?" she asked scornfully.

"I'll go down to the little deck outside the entrance hall on the port,
that is the left-hand side. I will wait for you there. If you do not
come to me before we pass under Brooklyn Bridge, I'll jump overboard."

She looked at him startled and searchingly. "You can't frighten me
that way," she said proudly.

"I'm not trying to frighten you. I'm making a simple statement. You
know what it is to have a strong will. Very well, others may have as
strong a will as your own. When I say a thing I'd die rather than go
back on it."

Corinna paled, but would not weaken. "I am not your keeper," she said.
"You must do as you will."

"Give me five minutes talk alone with you, and I'll go ashore
willingly. That's all I came for."

"I will not come. You will only make a fool of yourself."

"Very well, you have your choice," said Evan. He turned and went down
the stairway.

Back on his camp-stool on the narrow deck, he felt as a man must feel
after burning his bridges, a little shaky. He knew the lengths to
which a stubborn will may carry a person, and he was not at all sure of
her coming. Not that he meant to draw back; he spoke truth in saying
he would have died first; he was a good swimmer, and he had no serious
doubt of his ability to reach the shore, but he did not fancy being
dragged out on a pier drenched and shoeless, and having to give an
account of himself. And in that case Corinna would win out anyway.
The only way he could really get the better of her would be by
committing suicide, and he was not prepared to go as far as that.

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