The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 97: 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. 481 suggest this line of conduct, though she frequently surprised me by a unique display of ability in carrying it through. The mate never troubled her beyond ‘‘ Good morning, miss,’’ though Mr. Gupp displayed an ardor which under other circumstances might have been commendable. As for poor Hay- ling, she at first seemed to regard him as a most abandoned ruffian, and it necessitated a somewhat prolonged play of my persuasive powers to convince her to the contrary. ‘‘T shall never forget how stern he looked as he sat in the boat,’’ she cried, ‘‘ or how sharply he spoke to poor Captain White.’’ ‘“‘T saw you watching him.”’ 3 ‘He fascinated me. I could not help thinking of the faces in the rock carvings we had seen in Egypt. You are sure he is not a wicked man?”’ I could not help smiling at the ingenuous query. ‘‘T know little of him, Miss Waltham ’’—for such was her name—‘‘ but from the little I do know there is no man in the world whom I would sooner trust.’’ | ‘‘ Perhaps I don’t do him justice,’’ she said. ‘‘ I was horribly frightened, and he has such a strange, grim face. I am sure his ancestors must have come out of Egypt.’’ Just then the subject of our conversation came aft, and as he approached I saw her eyes fly to his face, and I noticed her mouth quiver. I beckoned him over and introduced him in the orthodox style—‘‘ Miss Waltham, this is our second officer, Mr. Hayling.’’ Hayling raised his cap and looked de- cidedly uncomfortable, while the girl strove her hardest to atone for past misconduct. A few commonplace remarks, a few congratulatory words from him respecting her rescue and recovery, and then he went on his way. But I noticed that her eyes rarely left his face, and that when he went away they instinctively followed him. ; “T think you may be right,’’ she said. ‘‘ Your friend’s eyes are almost timid.’’ ‘* He is not the bloodthirsty ruffan you imagined ?’’ I inquired, with a smile. ‘‘ How could I have been so foolish ? What does he think of me?’’ ‘‘Rverything that you could wish.”’ ‘‘ But I called him such horrid names !’’ ‘‘ And what do you think he calls you ?”’ ‘Tell me.”’ ‘*Our Lady of the Sea.’’ ‘‘Oh,’’ she said, evidently much affected, ‘‘I am so sorry. I beg his pardon—a thousand times.’’ So that was all right. Having once looked fairly into Hayling’s eyes, she had seen what ought to have been patent to the meanest intelligence— an honesty coupled with a most curious self dependence. Indeed, inside of tweuty four hours she was to experience a sensation entirely new to her, and gather a few more impressions concerning the big Australian. Thanks to the unexpected courtesy of Captain Macshiel, the girl’s life was made as easy as circumstances would permit ; but Macshiel, though 7 Eomicbooks (E@)