At the moment when Joel reached the deck, the other men aboard the
_Nathan Ross_ were widely scattered.
Varde, the second mate, he had left tied and helpless in the cabin. Two
of the four harpooners were below in their bunks, asleep. The greater
part of one watch was likewise below, in the fo'c's'le; and the rest of
the crew, under Dick Morrell's eye, were shortening sail. In the after
part of the ship there were only Mark Shore, Finch, a foremast hand at
the wheel, old Aaron Burnham, and the cook. Of these, Mark, Jim, and the
man at the wheel were in sight when Joel appeared; and only Mark had seen
him.
Joel saw his brother smile, and stood for an instant, poised to meet an
attack. None came. He swept his eyes forward and saw that he need fear no
immediate interference from that direction; and so he went quietly toward
the men astern. The broad back of Jim Finch was within six feet of
him....
What moved Mark Shore in that moment, it is hard to say. It may have been
the reckless spirit of the man, willing to wait and watch and see what
Joel would do; or it may have been the distaste he must have felt for Jim
Finch's slavish adulation; or it may have been an unadmitted admiration
for Joel's courage....
At any rate, while Joel advanced, Mark stood still and smiled; and he
gave Finch no warning, so that when Joel touched the mate's elbow, Finch
whirled with a startled gasp of surprise and consternation, and in his
first panic, tried to back away. Still Mark made no move. The man at the
wheel uttered one exclamation, looked quickly at Mark for commands, and
took his cue from his leader. Finch was left alone and unsupported to
face Joel.
Joel did not pursue the retreating mate. He stepped to the rail, where
the whaleboats hung, and called to Finch quietly:
"Mr. Finch, step here."
Finch had retreated until his shoulders were braced against the wall of
the after house. He leaned there, hands outspread against the wall behind
him, staring at Joel with goggling eyes. And Joel said again:
"Come here, Mr. Finch."
Joel's composure, and the determination and the confidence in his tone,
frightened Finch. He clamored suddenly: "How did he get here, Captain
Shore? Jump him. Tie him up--you--Aaron...."
He appealed to the man at the wheel, and to old Aaron, who had appeared
in the doorway of the tiny compartment where his tools were stored.
Neither stirred. Mark Shore, chuckling, stared at Finch and at Joel; and
Finch cried:
"Captain Shore. Come on. Let's get him...."