Part 7 (2/2)

”Yes.”

”Why?”

Mark smiled grimly. ”It was known there,” he said quietly. ”Also, the three whom I had found aboard it were known. And they had friends in Tubuai, who wondered what had come to them. I was beginning to--find their questions troublesome--when the _Nathan Ross_ came in.”

”They will ask more questions now,” said Joel.

”They must ask them of the schooner; and--she does not speak,” Mark told him.

Joel was troubled and uncertain. ”It's--a black thing,” he said.

”They'll not be after me, if that distresses you,” Mark promised him.

”Curiosity does not go to such lengths in these waters.”

”You told no one?”

Mark laughed. ”The pearls were--my own concern. You're the first I've told.” He watched his brother. Joel frowned thoughtfully, shook his head.

”You plan to go back for them?” he asked.

”You and I,” said Mark casually. Joel looked at him in quick surprise; and Mark laughed. ”Yes,” he repeated. ”You and I. I am not selfish, Joel.

Besides--there are plenty for two.”

Joel, for an instant, found no word; and Mark leaned quickly toward him.

He tapped Joel's knee. ”We'll work up that way,” he said quietly. ”When we come to the island, you and I go ash.o.r.e, and get them where they're hid beneath the rock; and we come back aboard with no one any wiser....

Rich. A double handful of them, Joel....”

Joel's eyes were clouded with thought; he shook his head slowly. ”What of the blacks?” he asked.

Mark laughed. ”They were brought down on us by the woman who got away,”

he said. ”Quint's woman. I heard as much that day, saw her among them.

But--they're gone before this.”

Joel said slowly: ”You are not sure of that. And--I cannot risk the s.h.i.+p....”

Mark asked sneeringly: ”Are you afraid?”

The younger man flushed; but he said steadily: ”Yes. Afraid of losing Asa Worthen's s.h.i.+p for him.”

Mark chuckled unpleasantly. ”I'm minded of what is written, here and there, in the 'Log of the House of Sh.o.r.e,'” he said, half to himself. And he quoted: ”'All the brothers were valiant....' There's more to that, Joel. 'And all the sisters virtuous.' I had not known we had sisters--but it seems you're one, boy. Not valiant, by your own admission; but at least you're fairly virtuous.”

Joel paid no heed to the taunt. ”Asa Worthen likes care taken of his s.h.i.+p,” he said, half to himself. ”I'm thinking he would not think well of this.... He's not a man to gamble....”

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