red, then he shouted, "Relieve the wheel and look out. Keep
yourselves handy there, the watch."

"She 's got the main-to'g'll'nts'le on, mister," said the mate, "and the
outer jib. It's been like this all the watch, steady enough. The sea's
getting up a bit, and having the spanker set makes her steer so badly,
but the old man wouldn't let me douse it;" and muttering something
about the "glass going right down into the hold" the oil-skinned figure
departed down the companion.

It was dark, very dark indeed, for though the moon was nearly full,
heavy clouds obscured the sky, and only now and then she managed to
pierce them, showing as clear as day the deserted wet decks--for the
watch had all stowed away--the few sails set and just under the foot
of the foresail the lookout man, banging his arms to and fro to keep
himself warm.

The second mate paced briskly up and down the poop, for'ard was the
lookout man, aft the man at the wheel, they three seemed to compose
the whole ship's company, and it gave him for a moment a sense of
loneliness. Hardly a week ago and he had hoped for such different
things.

He had lost nothing, nothing; he told himself so over and over again, as
he drew his oilskins close round him, and yet there was a sense of loss
in his life, a great and terrible loss. She would be nothing to him, the
girl he loved so well, she would marry Clement Scott, she had as good as
told him so--because--because he was the better man. The better man--the
better man--the words formed themselves into a sort of rhythm that his
steps kept time to--"the better man, the better man."

"Binnacle light's goin' hout, sir," said the man at the wheel, breaking
in on his sad thoughts.

"Below there. One of you boys trim this light."

Young Angus Mackie answered his hail, unshipped the light, and lingered
for a moment.

"We 'll be right aboard t'auld place in an hour or two, sir."

"What?"

"I was sayin' that goin' on this tack we 'll be awfu' close in shore.
Ye could pretty nigh chuck a biscuit in at the kitchen door. I wonder if
they'll be thinkin' o' us."

"E--h--h?" muttered Harper, for had not his thoughts been taking the
same road, though not for worlds would he have owned it.

"I'm thinkin' Susy will. Ye see I 'm thinkin' Susy was a bit gone--"

"You boy, trim that lamp," said Harper angrily. "Look here, my lad,
you just keep your tongue lashed amidships, and don't go gassing about
things that don't concern y