Part 9 (1/2)

”Yes, sir,” said Finch. ”An extraordinary adventure, Captain Sh.o.r.e.”

”I think it best the men should know nothing about it,” Joel told him.

”You will please keep it to yourself.”

Finch grinned. ”Of course, sir. There's no need they should have any share in them.”

Joel flushed angrily. ”We are not going after them. I consider it dangerous, and unwise.”

Over Finch's fat cheeks swept a twitching grimace of dismay. ”But I thought....” He looked at Mark, and Mark was chuckling. ”It's so easy, sir,” he protested. ”Just go, and get them.... Rich....”

Joel shook his head. ”Keep silent about the matter, Finch.”

Finch slowly bowed his head, and he smirked respectfully. ”Very well, Captain Sh.o.r.e,” he agreed. ”You always know best, sir.”

He turned away; and after a little Mark said softly: ”You have him well trained, Joel. Like a little dog.... I wonder that you can handle men so....”

Two days later, Joel knew that either Finch or Mark had told the tale anew. Young d.i.c.k Morrell came to him with s.h.i.+ning eyes. ”Is it true, sir, that we're going after the pearls your brother hid?” he asked. ”I just heard....”

Joel gripped the boy's arm. ”Who told you?”

Morrell twisted free, half angry. ”I--overheard it, sir. Is it true?”

”No,” said Joel. ”We're a whaler, and we stick to our trade.”

d.i.c.k lifted both hands, in a gesture almost pleading. ”But it would be so simple, sir....”

”Keep the whole matter quiet, Morrell,” Joel told him. ”I do not wish the men to know of it. And if you hear any further talk, report it to me.”

Morrell's eyes were sulky. He said slowly: ”Yes, sir.” The set of his shoulders, as he stalked forward, seemed to Joel defiant....

Within the week, the whole s.h.i.+p knew the story. Old Aaron Burnham, repairing a bunk in the fo'c's'le, heard the men whispering the thing among themselves. ”Tongues hissing like little serpents, sir,” he told Joel, in the cabin that night. ”All of pearls, and women, and the like.... And a s.h.i.+ne in their eyes....”

”Thanks, Aaron,” Joel said. ”I'm sorry the men know....”

”Aye, they know. Be sure of that,” Aaron repeated, with bobbing head.

”And they're roused by what they know. Some say you're going after the pearls, and aim to fraud them of their lay. And some say you're a mad fool that will not go....”

Joel's fist, on the table, softly clenched. ”What else?” he asked.

Aaron watched him sidewise. ”There was a whisper that you might be made to go....”

Priscilla saw, that night, that Joel was troubled. She and Mark were together on the cus.h.i.+oned seat in the after cabin, and Joel sat at his desk, over the log. Mark was telling Priss an expurgated version of some one of his adventures; and Joel, looking once or twice that way, saw the quick-caught breath in her throat, saw her tremulous interest.... And his eyes clouded, so that when Priscilla chanced to look toward him, she saw, and cried:

”Joel! What's the matter? You look so....”

He looked from one of them to the other for a s.p.a.ce; and then his eyes rested on Mark's, and he said slowly: ”It's in my mind that I'd have done best to set you ash.o.r.e at Tubuai, Mark.”