The _Wanderer_ seemed galvanized into new life. The sullenness and
tension that had hung over her decks all morning vanished as a fog
vanishes before the rising sun. The men jumped to their tasks,
grotesque grins on their faces where truculence had reigned a moment
before.
Down below decks the engines began humming, slowly at first, rising
steadily, until presently we were racing along at a speed that sent
the water hissing along our sides. On the bridge Brack paced
energetically, now speaking to the wheelman, now down the engine-room
telephone. Our course was changed so abruptly that we felt the impact
when the wheel went over, and minutes later we were holding steady and
true on a course nearly at right angles to the one we had been
following.
“Ha!” said Chanler. “Apparently cappy knows where he’s going, and is
going there as fast as the old scow can travel.”
Miss Baldwin, bracing herself against the breeze, laughed nervously.
Chanler reached down and took her hand. She looked up at him; then she
drew her hand away.
I turned to go. A sailor, dragging a hose aft, blocked my way for a
moment and I was forced to hear what they said.
“George,” said she, “tell me the truth; did Mrs. Payne ever intend to
come on this voyage? Or did you deceive me altogether?”
“I—I had to see you, Betty,” he faltered. “I——”
“Don’t say any more, please.”
As I entered the cabin she was looking out over the sea. Chanler was
chewing his under lip and staring hard at the deck.
I had barely settled myself in my stateroom to try to think coherently
on the events of the morning when Freddy Pierce slipped in, closing
the door noiselessly behind him.
“It’s all right, Brains,” he said. “Brack’s too busy on the bridge to
pay any attention to me. Let me roll one before you say anything; I’m
forty miles up in the air.”
“Pierce,” I said, as he manufactured his cigaret, “what sort of
message did Mr. Chanler send Miss Baldwin?”
“Ah ha! You’ll let me tell you now will you? Well, he sent two kinds;
one from himself, saying Mrs. Payne was on board, and one that he
signed ‘Dora Payne’, inviting Miss Baldwin to come on this voyage. Oh,
it’s a fine piece of business, I tell you——”
“Stop!” I said. “Don’t tell me any more; that’s plenty.”
He drew strongly at his cigaret and blew a shaft of smoke at the
ceiling.
“And a Jane—I mean, a girl like that, for anybody to do what Chanler
did! What’s his game, Brains? He isn’t so raw——”
“He isn’t himself,” I interrupted. “That’s the stuff; stick up for
your pals. But, think of me. I had a hand in getting this girl on
board ship.” He rose and tramped the room. “Chanler must be crazy,
especially after this morning, to let a girl come aboard. Can’t he see
what Brack is? And what do we know about where we’re going now? It’s
bad enough for us; I’d blow the job myself if there was any way out
and it didn’t look like being a quitter; but for a girl like this to
be pulled into it, it’s a fine business—I don’t think!”
“Pierce,” said I, “could we get that steamer to turn back to us?”
“Sure—if Chanler would give the order. They know he can pay for their
time, even if they are carrying mail.”
“Then you may have a message to send them soon,” I said, and went out
to seek Chanler and Miss Baldwin.
* * * * *
I did not find Chanler. Miss Baldwin was alone in a deck-chair under
the awning on the forward deck. She was sitting with her chin in her
hand, and to my surprise a look of relief came upon her face as she
glanced up and saw me. Before I could speak she said.
“Mr. Pitt, what has happened to George Chanler?”
“Happened to Chanler?” I stammered. I tried to make light of it, but
the look on her face stopped the foolish words on my lips.
“You know he is changed,” she continued. “What has done it?”
“How do you mean he has changed,” I asked.
“Don’t, please don’t try to deceive me?” She broke out. “I am not
blind. I can see he has changed, and I can see that your attitude
toward him is not what it would have been if he—if he were himself.
You’re an old friend of his?”
“I have known him for several years.”
“So he said. Then you know he has changed. Why, he was like a
good-natured boy last Winter; you couldn’t help liking him. And now he
is so different. What has happened to him?”
I looked at her, and her eyes were frankly searching me for the truth.
The eyes were gray and very calm.
“There is a change in him,” I admitted. “But I am still his friend.”
Her eyes widened a little.
“Do you mean by that that you can’t be my friend? Don’t you think I
have a right to know?”
“Chanler has been very lonely——”
“It’s drink, isn’t it?” she interrupted. “Don’t be afraid to tell me;
you can see I’m not afraid.”
“He has been lonely,” I continued, “and therefore he has probably been
drinking more than is good for him. Now that you are here he will
undoubtedly become himself again.”
“Do you think so, really?”
“I do,” I said earnestly. “How can he do anything else now?”
She rose and crossed over to the starboard rail. I followed. Looking
aft I saw Simmons hurrying into Chanler’s stateroom with a bottle
wrapped in a napkin, and Chanler’s absence was explained.
Miss Baldwin did not see Simmons. She was looking down at the water
along our side. After several minutes she raised her head.
“Poor George!” she said, “He’s never had to fight anything in his
life, so he’s handicapped. But we’ll hope, at least.”
“Miss Baldwin,” I said vigorously, “it is not too late for you to
leave this yacht. We can reach the _City of Nome_ by wireless. You can
return there now.”
The look which she bestowed on me had nothing in it but surprise.
“Leave the yacht now, just at the beginning of the voyage? Why do you
suggest that, Mr. Pitt?”
“I thought,” I stammered, “I thought that after you had seen how
things are on board you might be wishing you were safely back on the
steamer.”
“But—but you said my being here would help straighten George up?”