My expressed faith that Chanler would straighten up now that Miss
Baldwin was on board was doomed to early destruction. George had sunk
further than his face betrayed, further than any of us had guessed. As
a matter of fact this probably was the first time in his life that he
had seriously struggled with a big problem, and the struggle had
exposed him in a fashion I had not thought possible.
Twice that afternoon he left Miss Baldwin for short runs into his
stateroom, and each time he returned vivacious and aggressive. At
luncheon he was glum and distrait. Out of regard for Miss Baldwin he
had banished liquor from the table and he suffered without it.
Captain Brack was not present at luncheon. He was too occupied between
the bridge and the engine-room. Riordan also was absent.
“We are running at our maximum now, yes sir,” said Wilson in reply to
a question. “The captain is anxious to hold her so, and he is laying
the course himself.”
“Do you know where we are going, Wilson?” I asked.
“No sir. Our course is due north. We should strike somewhere on the
Kenai Peninsula, sir.”
“What kind of a country is it there?” asked Betty.
“No country at all, Miss. Entirely unsettled. A rough coast-line.”
“Cappy apparently knows where he’s going,” muttered Chanler.
“Yes sir,” said Wilson.
“And nobody else does.”
“No sir.”
“And that’s what I call a situation to keep a chap from being bored.
What do you say, Wilson?”
“I’m not easily bored, sir.”
“You lucky dog!”
“Yes sir,” said Wilson, and excusing himself went out.
When Dr. Olson had done likewise Chanler looked long and lovingly at
Miss Baldwin.
“Betty,” he said, as if rousing himself with an effort.
“Yes, George.”
“Betty, don’t you think you were an awful fool to come on a crazy trip
like this?”
She smiled as if humoring him.
“Why do you say that, George?”
“Suppose folks should hear about it?”
“What then?”
“Betty—you—all alone on a yacht with me. What’ll folks think if they
know?”
“They do know,” she said. “I told my folks and friends where I was
going.”
“Yes, but you told them my sister was on board.”
“Certainly—as you told me.”
“Oh, don’t rub it in, Betty. That’s past. But what do you think people
will think when they know she wasn’t on board, and that you came ’way
up here alone to join me?”
She looked at him steadily. I half rose to leave, but a glance from
her eyes told me to remain. It was not a pleasant scene. I stared at
my napkin.
“You see, Betty,” he continued, leaning loosely across the table,
“that’s what it will look like. Won’t it, Gardy?”