The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 101: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. 485 By this time quite a considerable crowd had assembled, and while some began to murmur threateningly at the second mate, others took up the gunner and carried him below. | ‘It was a fair fight, lads,’’ cried Captain Macshiel, ‘‘ and the best man won.”’ This seemed to appease the majority, though some there were who recog- nized in Gupp a possible leader, and who plainly resented this treatment of their chief. But Macshiel had spoken, and as yet he was their com- mander. Tufning round, I saw the girl standing by the companion. Her face was horribly white, and she looked so like fainting that I ran across to her. ‘I thought you were below.”’ ““T couldn’t stay—I couldn’t !’’ she aad, “Then you have seen a ‘All ;’? and her head drooped forward and her lips quivered. ‘“ Well, well, let me take you below now. You look as though you were going to faint.’’ ‘*But I’m not,’’ she said firmly. ‘‘I never fainted in my life. It’s horrible, that’s all. Tell Mr. Hayling to come here.”’ I immediately called to him, for he, seeing with whom I was speaking, had begun to sneak forward in a way that did not become such a worthy knight. But my voice cut short his retreat, and seeing me beckon, he ap- proached awkwardly, as if ashamed of himself, surreptitiously wiping the blood from his face. A curiously rough and ruffled appearance he presented as he stood before her. He had a contusion over the right eye, which did not add to his beauty, while the blood had stained the corners of his mouth, the under lip of which was already much swollen. Yet, in spite of it all, there was some- thing about him unmistakably manly and attractive. I wanted to grip his hand, or sling my arm through his. Had I been a woman, I think I would have flung my arms around his neck and had a good cry. But our Lady of the Sea did nothing of the kind. She held out her little white hand, and she took his big, brown paw, bruised and bloody as it was ; and I saw him tremble and look sheepish, and almost drag his hand away. ‘“Mr. Hayling,’’ she said, and her sweet voice was full of the most de- lightful tenderness, while her sweet eyes glistened with tears, ‘‘ I am sorry that through me you should have been led into this brawl; but I thank you sincerely for coming to the aid of a defenseless girl.’’ ‘‘T am sorry for your sake that my aid was necessary,’’ he replied ; ‘‘ but it’s always yours when you want it.”’ “Thank you.’’ But the deep fringe quivered and drooped, for Hayling was now looking at her in a way that would try a much older woman. Nothing more was said just then, the captain coming up and apologizing for the brutal behavior of his third mate. While this was going on Hayling stole away, and a few minutes after I GEomichook (S@)