n, as you do very well know. Howbeit, I swear
that henceforth, so long as we company together, I will trouble you no
more than I may, either by act or speech, you to your place in the bows
yonder in mine here at the tiller, you to your thoughts, I to mine.
And thus methinks we shall do well enough until we can go our several
ways."

"Must we not speak?" she questioned, keeping her face turned from me.

"When needful, madam!"

"Am I but to answer when you deign me notice? Will it plague you if I
sing? Am I to sit with my hands folded henceforth and do nought but
think? Must I stay in the bows until you summon me thence?" says she,
and all in the same small, soft voice, so that I perceived my fine
speech had been thrown away; wherefore I stared up at the sail and with
never a word in answer.

But presently, chancing to look at her, I found her regarding me with
her dimpled chin set mighty resolute; "Because," says she, meeting my
look, "I shall talk when I will and sing when so minded, Martin
Conisby. I shall not sit in the bows for 'tis wet there, and I shall
not fold my hands, but you shall teach me how to steer and handle the
boat and do my share of the labour. For look now, here are we, by no
will of our own, God knoweth, companions in misfortune, let us then aid
each other that our troubles be the easier. And O pray do you forget
Martin Conisby his woes awhile." And away she goes, and getting to her
knees before one of the lockers, begins rearranging the contents,
singing away the while merry as any grig.

As the day wore on, the skies clouded over with a wind very sudden and
blusterous, wherefore, misliking the look of things, I was for
shortening sail, but feared to leave the helm lest the boat should
broach to and swamp while this was a-doing. But the wind increasing, I
was necessitated to call my companion beside me and teach her how she
must counter each wind-gust with the helm, and found her very apt and
quick to learn. So leaving the boat to her manage I got me forward and
(with no little to-do) double-reefed our sail, leaving just sufficient
to steer by; which done I glanced to my companion where she leaned to
the tiller, her long hair streaming out upon the wind, her lithe body
a-sway to the pitching of the boat and steering as well as I myself.
From her I gazed to windward where an ominous and ever-growing
blackness filled me with no small apprehensions; wherefore I made fast
all our loose g