ars
too. I thought of the likable little Arab, red-headed, freckled and
homely, and I blamed myself bitterly that I had ever let him rejoin us
at Los Angeles.

"He wouldn't have come if it hadn't been for me. I asked you to let
him," the young woman reproached herself.

"It isn't your fault. You meant it for the best."

Of a sudden she turned half from me and leaned against the door-jamb,
covering her face with her hands. She was sobbing very softly.

I put my arm across her shoulders and petted her awkwardly. Presently
she crowded back the sobs and whispered brokenly, not to me, but as a
relief to her surcharged feelings.

"This dreadful ship of death! This dreadful ship! Why did I ever lead
true men to their deaths for that wicked treasure?"

I do not know how it happened, but in her wretchedness the girl swayed
toward me ever so slightly. My arms went round her protectingly. For an
instant her body came to me in sweet surrender, the soft curves of her
supple figure relaxed in weariness. Then she pushed me from her gently.

"Not now--not now."

I faced a closed door, but as I went up the companionway with elastic
heels my heart sang jubilantly.

CHAPTER XVII

A TASTE OF THE INQUISITION

It could have been no more than five minutes after I left her that
Evelyn followed me to the upper deck saloon. Yet in the interval her
nimble fingers had found time to garb her in a simple blue princess
dress she had found near to her hand.

Without looking at me she went straight to Blythe, who was sponging the
wrist of Alderson.

"You'll let me help, won't you?" she asked, with such sweet simplicity
that I fell fathoms deeper in love.

"Of course. You're our chief surgeon. Eh, Alderson?"

The sailor grinned. Though he was a little embarrassed he was grateful
for the addition to the staff.

After they had finished I brought her water to wash her hands. For the
first time since she had entered the room our gaze met.

Braver eyes no woman ever had, but the thick lashes fluttered down now
and a wave of pink beat into her cheeks. Moved as she was by a touch of
shy confusion, the oval of her face stirred delicately as if with the
spirit of fire, she seemed a very blush rose, a creature of so fine a
beauty as to stir a momentary fear.

But I knew her to be strong, even if slight, and abrim with health. When
she walked away with that supple, feathered tread of hers, so firm and
yet so light, the vitality of h