orner of the deck building.
They stood side by side, bracing themselves against the downward slope
of the deck. Half-way forward were Trigger and the armed gunners,
and beyond them the dense, irresolute mass of humanity. Percival, in
rounding the corner to go to the assistance of Captain Trigger, observed
with dismay the exposed position in which the two women had placed
themselves. He paused to cry out to them sharply:

"What are you doing here? Get back to the other side. Can't you see
there is likely to be shooting? Don't stand there like a couple of
idiots! You're right in line if that gang begins to fire."

"He is tearing off his bandages," cried Ruth, as Percival hurried on.

Madame Obosky was silent, her gaze fixed intently on the brisk,
aggressive figure of the man who had called them idiots. She understood
every word he uttered to the Portuguese. Her eyes glistened with pride
when he stepped forward to tackle the mob single-handed, and as he went
on with his astonishing speech she actually broke into a soft giggle.
Her companion looked at her in amazement.

"Why do you laugh?" she demanded hotly. "Those dreadful creatures may
tear him to pieces. He is unarmed and defenceless. They could sweep
him--"

"You would laugh also if you understood," interrupted Olga, her
eyes dancing. "Oh, what a grand--what do you call it?--bluff? What a
magnificent bluff he is doing! It is beautiful. See,--they whisper among
themselves,--they have back down completely. Wait! I will presently tell
you what he have said to them."

"I never dreamed any man could be so fearless. Look at the odds against
him. There are scores of them,--and they--"

"Pooh! Do you suppose he would stand up and fight them if they rushed at
him? Not he! He would turn and run as fast as he could. He is no fool,
my dear. He is a very intelligent man. So he would run if they make a
single move toward him."

"I think this is rather a poor time to accuse him of cowardice, Madame
Obosky, in view of what he--"

"Have I accused him of cowardice?"

"I'd like to know what you call it. You say he would run if they--"

"But that would not be cowardice. It would be the simplest kind of
common sense. He is so very sure of himself. It is not courage. It is
confidence. That is his strength. He would be a fool to stand in front
of them empty-handed if they were to charge upon him. Maybe when
you have known him as long as I have, you will realize he is not a
fool