"No," said Joel. "We're a whaler, and we stick to our trade."
Dick 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 ship 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 shine 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 cushioned 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 space; 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 ashore at Tubuai, Mark."
Mark laughed; but Priss cried hotly: "Joel! What a perfectly horrible
thing to say!" Her voice had grown deeper and more resonant of late, Joel
thought. It was no longer the voice of a girl, but of a woman.... Mark
touched her arm.
"Don't care about him," he told her. "That's only brotherly love...."
"He oughtn't to say it."
Joel said quietly: "This is a matter you do not understand, Priscilla.
You would do well to keep silent. It is my affair."
A month before, this would have swept Priss into a fury of anger; but
this night, though her eyes burned with slow resentment, she bit her lips
and was still. A month ago, she would have forgotten over night. Now she
would remember....
Mark got up, laughed. "He's bad company, Priss," he told her. "Come on
deck with me."
She rose, readily enough; and they went out through the main cabin, and
up the companionway. Joel watched them go. They left open the door into
the cabin, and he heard Varde and Finch, at the table there, talking in
husky whispers.... It was so, he knew, over the whole ship. Everywhere,
the men were whispering.... There hung over the _Nathan Ross_ a cloud as
definite as a man's hand; and every man scowled--save Mark Shore. Mark
smiled with malicious delight at the gathering storm he had provoked....
Joel, left in the after cabin, felt terribly lonely. He wanted Priss with
him, laughing, at his side. His longing for her was like a hot coal in
his throat, burning there. And she had taken sides with Mark, against
him.... His shoulders shook with the sudden surge of his desire to grip
Mark's lean throat.... Ashore, he would have done so. But as things were,
the ship was his first charge; and a break with Mark would precipitate
the thing that menaced the ship.... He could not fight Mark without
risking the _Nathan Ross_; and he could not risk the _Nathan Ross_. Not
even.... His head dropped for an instant in his arms, and then he got up
quickly, and shook himself, and set his lips.... No man aboard must see
the trouble in his heart....
He went through the main cabin, and climbed to the deck. There was some
sea running, and a wind that brushed aside all smaller sounds, so that he
made little noise. Thus, when he reached the top of the companion, he saw
two dark figures in the shadows of the boat house, closely clasped....
He stood for an instant, white hot.... His wife, and Mark.... His little
Priss, and his brother....
Then he went quietly below, and glanced at the chart, and chose a course
upon it. The nearest land; he and Mark ashore together.... His blood ran
hungrily at the thought....