Part 28 (2/2)

”Open the door, Brutus,” said my father, and suddenly his voice was raised to a shout that rose above the wind and the sails

”Keep clear of that wheel! If a single ain, and the _Sea Tern_ still lurched in the trough of the sea

I ran to the door beside hi, and by it I saohuddled on the deck, and the shi+p's wheel whirling backwards and forwards as the waves hit the rudder

”Get the wheel!” so blown on the bar Get the wheel!”

”Stand clear, you dogs,” called ether”

”Brutus,” he added, ”go forward and open the forecastle, and tell my men to clear the decks If any of these fools notice you, kill them, but they won't, Brutus, they won't Their rave”

The shi+p heeled far over on her side as another gust of wind took her

Sixat my father hite faces, while sea after sea swept over the bulwarks

Three of theht the almost to his feet

”Your sword, Henry,” called my father I ducked under his ar deck, but they did not wait

”Ah,” said my father, ”here they come Brutus was quicker than I could have hoped”

”Aiken!” he shouted, ”are you there? Put up that helet your men on the braces D'you hear me?

Get some way on the shi+p”

A hoarse voice bellowed out an order, and another answered

”Good,” saidthan I expected You can hear the breakers now Give me your arm, my son A lantern, Brutus”

XVI

And so it was over, over alht that Brutus was holding showed me the white walls of the cabin, with charts nailed upon them A table was secured to the deck, with two chairs beside it These, two lockers and a berth s But I hardly took the tiaveith sea water, and still stamped with splashes of led like a dirty ribbon from his neck The powder in his hair was clotted in little streaks of white His face was like a piece of yellow parchht hand he still clutched an eripped the back of the nearest chair, staring straight at Made opposite, his cloak still about her Slowly he inclined his head, and when he looked up he was sht, my lady?” he asked anxiously ”I am sorry you have been startled Believefor us It was careless of ht, very careless Help her to a chair, Henry”

”Will you always be polite?” she cried, with a little catch in her voice

”Will you never think of yourself? You are wounded, Captain And what are you staring at?” she cried, turning to me ”Come here, sir, and help me with his coat”

My father sank into a chair, and his pale lips relaxed

”Pray do not concern yourself,” he replied gravely ”I think of myself, Mademoiselle, of myself always, and now I a on your dress Brutus will see to me, Mademoiselle He is quite used to it The rum, Brutus You will find it in the starboard locker”

But it was Madelass He drank it quickly

”Again, if you please,” he said, and a shade of color returned to his cheeks ”The water was uncoht How much better the sea would be, if the Lord had mixed in a dash of spirits There is a coat in the locker, Brutus, and you may find some splints and a piece of twine I fear my arm is broken”

Made away his sleeve, half soaked with blood He sighed and smiled a little sadly