above the shallow rail, he unloosed
the painter, worked the boat astern, and drew it in again to port. Then
he crouched down in the alleyway and waited.

A few minutes later and the whaler was bumping against the schooner's
side. It might have been bumping against Gregory's heart, so agonizing
was the suspense as he lay breathless and cramped between the coffinlike
width of house and rail.

"It was kind of you to bring me off, Maka," said Madge.

The old Hawaiian laughed musically in denial. "No, no!" he cried.

"You must come below and see the captain," said Madge.

Gregory was in a cold sweat of apprehension.

"Too much storm," said Maka doubtfully. "I go home now, and put rocks on
the church roof."

"Five minutes won't matter," said Madge.

Again Gregory trembled.

"More better I go home quick," said Maka. "No rocks, no roof!"

The boat shoved off, the crew striking up a song. Madge seemed to remain
standing at the gangway where they had left her. Gregory felt by
instinct that she was gazing at the _Northern Light_, and that as she
gazed she sighed; that she was lost in reverie and was loath to go
below.

He rose stiffly from his hiding place. Even as he did so it came over
him that he was extraordinarily tired--so tired that he swayed as he
stood and looked at her.

"Madge!" he said in almost a whisper. "Madge!"

She turned instantly, paling as she saw who confronted her.

"Greg!" she cried.

For a moment they stared at each other speechless. Then he leaped on the
house and ran to her, she shrinking back from him as he tried to take
her hands.

"You must not!" she cried, as he would have kissed her. "Greg, you must
not! I'm married. It's all different now."

He tried to put his arms around her, but she pushed him fiercely back.
Her eyes were flashing, and her bosom rose and fell.

"I'm Joe's wife," she said.

Then, from his face, she seemed to divine something.

"What have you done to Joe?" she cried. She would have passed him, but
he stopped her.

"No, no!" he protested.

"Let me go, or I shall call him," she broke out. "You sha'n't insult me!
You sha'n't kiss me!"

He was kissing her even as he held her back, even as she fought and
struggled with him--on the lips, on the neck, on her black, loosened
hair, now tangling and flying in the wind. He was so weak that she soon
got the better of him--so weak and dizzy that he did not guard himself
as she struck him on the mouth with her litt