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You saved my life, for if you had not jumped on to the shark I should have been taken. Velo told me so just now. He said that he might have been safe, but that I was on the outside and that the shark would have had me in his jaws if you had not jumped overboard." Barry took the Spaniard's hand, "That's all right, Barradas.
She decided to return to the ship with about ten or a dozen natives and see her present handed over to them by Barradas, leaving Barry to follow later on; for he had yet another task before him the burial of Chase. A little before noon a boat left the brig, carrying the man's body, which was in a hastily made coffin.
During the voyage from Sydney, Barry had scarcely had occasion to speak to this man more than half a dozen times, but whenever he had done so Joe had answered him with a cheerful "Aye, aye, sir," and obeyed his orders promptly, whereas a command from Rawlings, Barradas, or the Greek was received in sullen silence and carried out with a muttered curse. The reason for this was not far to seek.
Barry, Barradas, and one of the white seamen sprang forward and endeavoured to separate them, but the rest of the Gilbert Islanders leapt to the aid of their countryman, and in less than a minute the deck was filled with a group of struggling men.
He waited for a moment or two, but Barry did not repeat his invitation. With his hands in his pockets he was gazing out upon the moonlit lagoon, apparently oblivious of his subordinate's presence. "I think I shall take a walk on the path running along the outer beach," said Barradas presently in an awkward, constrained manner. Barry nodded. "Just so.
"'Leave it to me, my dear, doubting Manuel, replied Rawlings in his mocking voice. "At that moment four bells struck, and another native sailor came aft to take the wheel, and I, after waiting for a minute or two, and hearing no further talk, concluded that Rawlings and the Greek had left the poop, and only Barradas remained.
Tracey, who had followed, overtook him at the companion way and touched his arm. "Thank God, it is all over, Mr. Barry." Then her tears began to fall. Barry raised her hand and touched it with his lips. "All over, thank God. Now will you come and speak to Barradas?" She followed him below. Barradas was sitting at the table with his hands over his eyes. Mrs.
"I must tell Barradas," said Barry; "steward, send the mate here." The Spaniard came below, heard the news in silence, bent his head and crossed himself, and quietly went on deck again. He knew that in a few hours, or a day or so at most, he would be arrested, but knew that his conduct since the murder of Captain Tracey would go largely in his favour, and that in both Barry and Mrs.
"It may be that my poor husband did indeed take his own life," she said, "but I do not believe it." "Yet why should they Rawlings and the others have spared him so long?" inquired Barry. "Neither Barradas nor Rawlings were navigators," replied Mrs. Tracey quickly.
They sat talking together for some time of the people in Arrecifos, of Barradas, and of the days on the old Mahina. Then when Barry spoke of the barque's approaching departure she became silent. "I shall miss you very much, Captain Barry " she began and then she stopped. He looked at her and saw that her eyes were filled with tears.
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