you did not well know
your brother. Ye'd only seen him ashore. And--I'm doubting that you knew
all the circumstances of his departure from this ship."

"I know that he went ashore," said Joel. "Went ashore, and left his men,
and departed; and I know that they searched for him three weeks without a
sign."

Aaron sat back on his heels, and rubbed the smooth head of his hammer
thoughtfully against his dry old cheek. "I'm not one to speak harm," he
said. "And I've said naught, in the town. But--you have some right to
know that Mark Shore was not a sober man when he left the ship. I' truth,
he had not been sober--cold sober--for a week. And he left with a bottle
in his coat." He nodded his gray old head, eyes not on Joel, but on the
hammer in his hand. "Also, there was a pearling schooner in the lagoon,
with drunk white men aboard."

He glanced sidewise at Joel then, and saw the Captain's cheek bones
slowly whiten. Whereupon old Aaron bent swiftly to his task, half fearful
of what he had said. But when Joel spoke, it was only to say quietly:

"Asa should have told me this."

Aaron shook his head vehemently, but without looking up from his task.
"Not so," he said. "There was no need the town should chew Mark's name.
Better--" He glanced at Joel. "Better if he were thought dead. Asa's a
good man, you mind. And--he knew your father."

Joel nodded at that. "Asa meant wisest, I've no doubt," he agreed.
"But--Mark would do nothing that he was shamed of."

"Mark Shore," said Aaron thoughtfully, "did many things without shame for
which other men would have blushit."

Joel said curtly: "Aaron, ye'll say no more such things as that."

"Ye're right," Aaron agreed. "I should no have said it. But--'tis so."

Joel left him and went on deck, and his eyes were troubled.... Priss was
there, with Dick Morrell showing her some trick of the wheel, and they
were laughing together like children. Joel felt immensely older than
Priss.... Yet the difference was scarce six years.... She saw him, and
left Morrell and came running to Joel's side. "Did you sleep?" she asked.
"You needed rest, Joe."

"I rested," he told her, smiling faintly. "I'll be fine...."

V

They drifted past Pernambuco, and touched at Trinidad, and so worked
south and somewhat westward for Cape Horn. And in Joel grew, stronger and
ever, the resolve to hunt out Mark, and find him, and fetch him home....
The blood tie was strong on Joel; stronger than any memo