divine the fact that Trask was
secretly critical.

"I guess you thought we was slow in makin' anchorage," suggested
Jarrow.

This abruptness in reaching the very subject which Trask was
considering made him wary of the captain. It was plainly a bid for
an expression of Trask's ideas. Jarrow was angling for Trask's
opinion to learn whether he might be easily misled, or perhaps
ascertain if Trask's coming out to investigate now was part of his
general feeling that Jarrow was not to be trusted.

"Well, naturally," said Trask, after a moment's hesitation, "we
were anxious to get here as soon as possible, yet we realized that
you had to take precautions."

"Can't take no chances with this kind of a bottom," said Jarrow.
"Might be easy to git in through them coral patches, but I've got
to know how to git out, and how to git out under the worst
conditions. Some of them patches probably break with the least
little sea on. If I had to beat out against a head wind in the
dark, I don't want to pile up on breakers with----"

Jarrow stopped to listen. The sound of oars came to their ears off
toward the black shape of the island.

"You better git some sleep," said Jarrow.

"All right," said Trask. "Good-night, captain."

"Good-night, sir. And don't you be worried none about noises out
here. I'm a-lookin' after things."

"Did you think I was worried?" asked Trask, stopping.

This was apparently a poser for Jarrow, who took his cigar out of
his mouth, and was a full minute in framing a reply. Trask would
have given a good deal to see his face.

"I didn't take you that way," said Jarrow.

Trask went back beside him. The young man felt that it was a
mistake to allow Jarrow to dismiss him as he had, with the curt
suggestion that he go back to bed.

"Then I want to assure you," said Trask, speaking slowly and in a
tone intended to carry conviction of just how he felt, "that I'm
not the worrying kind, Captain Jarrow. And if Mr. Peth gets to
acting up, I'm prepared to deal with him myself."

"Oh, hush!" said Jarrow, in a low whisper. "We can't have any talk
like that for'ard here."

"I don't care who hears me," went on Trask, determined to carry out
his bluff. "I've been out on deck for quite a while, and to be
frank, I didn't like the idea of a boat going off this way. If it's
your plan to kedge, and you think it is necessary, all right. I'm
not a sailor. But I do know you haven't got Mr. Peth or the crew
very well in