And what could I say to her, what comfort give her I, a rough-hearted sailor, who, nevertheless, would have cut off my own right hand if that could have served her?

The men had lost all spirit of fun in the contest, even to Slivers, who strove, however, to see it through in a bluff, rough-hearted way. Unexpectedly all of it came to a crisis. It was early in the morning. After a sleepless night Barney had gone in desperate parent-care to receive his foundling back from Moody.