g her orders. Yes, singing--that full, contralto _halloo_ of
hers was naught but a song. And how the wild men of the crew had
leaped to obey! Wild men--he had seen but few white faces
forward--wild islanders of some sort.

He would never forget his first dogwatch, spent by the boatswain's
side, pacing the poop deck. How niftily he had gained his sea legs!
He had easily learned the trick of throwing his body to meet the ship.
He had learned lots, besides, from the deep voice rumbling in his ear.

"A smart little 'ooker lad, and a smart crew, all married to 'er.
Swiggle me! Ain't many 'er size can show 'er a pair o' 'eels. Ay,
small, but big enough for 'er work--'undred thirty ton. Great trader,
the Old Man is. 'Square Jim' Dabney, 'e's called, from the Arctic to
'Obart Town, and across Asia side; except them Rooshuns--they call 'im
the 'Slippery Devil.' Says I, fine 'auls we've 'ad, seal and fur, from
them Rooshuns.

"Blast o' dynamite, lad, took the Old Man's sight. Fine 'aul this time
if we 'ave luck. Swiggle me stiff, it'll set us up ashore for bleeding
toffs! ... ye'll 'ear about it later.... Ay, that's the royal,
lad--topmost spar--be shakin' that rag out afore long.... Ay, mate,
and a proper fine mate she is, bless 'er bleeding little 'eart! Grew
up at sea--proper shark for navigation--Old Man never 'ad 'er 'ead for
figures.... See--them's the 'alyards, lad! ... Ay, prime sailorman,
she is, too...."

Such was the burden of the boatswain's discourse throughout the
dogwatch. A shark for navigation, and a prime sailorman, bless her
bleeding little heart! Oh, she was the apple of the boatswain's eye!
And of other eyes. And the boatswain had called her "mister" when he
came on deck----

"'Ow's she going, mister?"

She grew up at sea! So the boatswain had said. Had been able to "take
a sight at ten year, lad, an' work out a position, which, swiggle me, I
can't do for all my size and years!" Could even match the red giant at
sailorly work with ropes and wires.

What a strange upbringing for a girl! He had gathered that Ruth was
the granddaughter of the blind man, Square Jim Dabney, that she was
orphaned; that this cockleshell of a vessel had been her home since
babyhood. Bred of seamen and to the sea. No wonder she paced the deck
so confidently, and flung a laugh into the East Wind's very face!

She was of the breed of the silent old man who bore his affliction so
steadfastly. Martin st