"No," said Joel gently. "You were never one to lie, Mark." And Priss,
listening, winced at the thing that was like apology in his tone. She
heard Mark laugh again, aloud; and she heard the fat chuckle of Jim
Finch. Then Mark said:
"It's well you remember that. So.... Will you go with us; or do we go
without you?"
There was a long moment of silence before Joel answered. At last he said:
"You're making to spill blood on the _Nathan Ross_, Mark. I've no mind
for that. I'll not have it--if I can stop it. So ... I'll consider this
matter, to-night, and give you your answer in the morning."
"You'll answer now," Varde said sullenly. "There's too much words and
words.... You'll answer now."
"I'll answer in the morning," Joel repeated, as though he had not heard
Varde. "In the morning. And--for now--I'll bid you good night,
gentlemen."
Mark chuckled. "There's one matter, Joel. You've two rifles and a pair of
revolvers in the lockfast by your cabin there. I'll take them--to avoid
that blood-spilling you mention."
Priss held her breath, listening.... But Joel said readily: "Yes. Here is
the key, Mark. And--I hold you responsible for the weapons."
Her anger at Joel for his submission beat in her ears; and she heard the
jingle of the keys, and the scrape and ring of the weapons as Mark took
them. He called to Joel as he did so: "They'll not leave my hands. Till
the morning, Joel, my boy...."
The keys jingled again. Mark said: "We'll ask you to stay in the after
cabin here till morning. And--Varde will be in the main cabin to see that
you do it."
"I'll stay here," Joel promised.
"Then--we'll bid you good night!"
Priss heard Joel echo the words, in even tones. Then the door closed
behind the men.... There was no further sound in the after cabin.
She opened her door. Joel stood by his desk, head drooping, one hand
resting on the open log before him. She went toward him, and when he
turned and saw her, she stopped, and studied him, her eyes searching his.
And at last she said, so softly it was as though she spoke to herself:
"'All the brothers were valiant,' Joel. Are you--just a coward?"
He would not justify himself to her; he could only remember the shadowed
deck beneath the boat house--Priscilla in his brother's arms.... He
lifted his right hand a little, said sternly:
"Go back to your place."
She flung her eyes away from him, stood for an instant, then went to her
cabin with feet that lagged and stumbled.