der name ouf Natalie. Yes? No?
How iss it, mine childrens?"

Natalie ran below, overcome with confusion. The old trader turned to
Barry, his whimsical humor giving place to cold business. "For now,
Barry, I haf to say take this schooner to Surabaya. It iss at the orders
ouf dot navy mans. Hendrik has to rejoin his ship, unt it will take a
week or so to clean oop all dose leedle things left py dose opium
runners, I come mit you, too, unt if you are short ouf a mate, I can
stand a watch yet. Now schall we start? Hendrik joins his ship outside."

"Man the windlass, Rolfe, and heave away!" shouted Barry, alight with
excitement at what he had surprised on Natalie's face as she ran below.
The mention of wedding presents might be a little premature; but Jack
Barry knew enough to seize his chance and at least do his best to make
it mature. He saw the mate take his men to the windlass, and cast a look
at the boom-sails, all ready to hoist, since they had simply been let go
when the schooner anchored and not made fast.

"Blunt!" he hailed.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

"Can you handle a watch with that crippled fin?"

"Crippled? Bless ye, Cap'n, I ain't crippled!"

"That arm, man."

"Huh! Ain't I got one left? Come on, Bullies! Clap on to them
halliards!"

"All right," cried Barry. "Hoist away. Mains'l first."

Barry ran below to look out charts and rulers and the other navigating
implements necessary for simple point-to-point navigation. He found
Natalie sitting in the main saloon with her chin in her cupped hand,
gazing into the future. Her eyes grew dusky and her face flooded with
color as he stopped by her chair and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, lady mine," he said, finding sudden boldness in her confusion.
"Are you thinking of what old Cornelius said?"

"Not entirely," she replied, meeting his gaze with eyes that swiftly
changed to disconcerting clearness. "Why should it be necessary for Mr.
Houten to say anything?"

Barry had graduated from the awkward class, though perhaps not long ago.
He swept her up in his arms, triumphantly aware that she struggled and
submitted, and his lips sought hers in a first kiss. But suddenly, when
her submission seemed absolute, Natalie revealed a strength that amazed
and puzzled him. She writhed free from his grasp and said with a low
little laugh:

"I was not thinking about what Cornelius said--but of what you once
said to Juliana--Jack!"

He was staggered for a second, the