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She simply must talk, or drop, she thought, so attempted Jerry Rolfe again. "Mr. Rolfe, I don't understand why you are upset at what I said concerning Mr. Vandersee," she ventured. "Huh," grunted Rolfe. "Naval man, you said, didn't you?" "Why, yes. But how can that make you so fierce and grumpy?" Old Bill Blunt grinned happily at her tone. He too had felt the oppressiveness of a speechless march.
But, leaving nothing to chance, Vandersee had manned Houten's big launch and she was ready, held by a single line; and as the schooner swung around the last bend and let her canvas shake, the big Hollander called Barry and Gordon. "Come, friends," he said, "here is work for us all, and in particular for you."
He stepped over to Barry and with respectful confidence said: "If you know the channel, sir, I'll get into the chains with the lead myself. There's a bad shoal patch this side of the bar, and with the water slicking over it to the out-draw of that eddy, it looks like deep water." "All right, Mr. Vandersee Oh, thunder!" Barry flung out the expression in petulance.
"Say, marm, d' ye know what we take these playthings fer?" he asked, handling his pistol and rifle. "Yes, I know. Still it will be all right. Miss Sheldon will be in no danger with you that she would avoid here. Besides, Mr. Rolfe, I give you my word that Mr. Vandersee would approve of it." "Vandersee?" Rolfe glared from Mrs. Goring to Miss Sheldon.
And silence had hardly settled over the boat when the underbrush crackled above them, and a quiet voice called out: "Given us the slip, Captain, hey?" Following the soft query, a huge bulk dropped nimbly and expertly down by an overhanging vine, and Vandersee sat on the stern boards beside Barry.
Goring is there unknown to anybody except Miss Sheldon and ourselves, and solely to give Natalie the support of her presence and advice in what is going to be a very difficult situation for a young girl." Barry kicked at Little, to awake him to listen, and asked: "Say, Vandersee, that sort of thing's a habit with Mrs. Goring, isn't it?" "Habit? Reassuring people, do you mean, Captain?"
"Once more I ask you to rest easy about that, Captain," Vandersee smiled back, and suddenly Jack Barry felt complete trust take hold of him. He nodded, without further question, and turned to Gordon. "How about you, Gordon? Want to lend a hand?" "To raise your ship? Like a shot, skipper. And the harder the work you give me, the better I'll like it. I'm in need of hardening."
So I stole a name for its sake. It is dead now. I am Miss Vandersee." A deep silence was marked by the men walking away and leaving the two women to their own thoughts; and the relief was welcomed when Vandersee reported the steam launch in sight. In five minutes it was alongside, and the men in her held the ladder for Little.
"I know, gentlemen," Vandersee said, motioning to some of the Barang's crew. "I have seen much of this sort of thing. It will be several days at least before you recover from your ordeal. Meanwhile I suggest that you have your men carry you back to the post. Mrs. Goring is caring for Gordon there and will gladly take care of you, assisted by Miss Sheldon."
But the picture invariably dissolved as soon as it was conjured out of the mists, and in its place glowed the vision of a girl in Mission dress, simple and sweet: the girl whose good name he had defended; whose picture now lay in the lid of his chronometer box, where he must see it every time he went to his room. Vandersee asked permission and went below to see Little.
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