Roy shook loose. "No. This is my family affair, Dan'l. Let me alone...."
He started forward. Dan'l hesitated; then he drew back, turned aft,
stopped, watched.... He took a malicious pleasure in seeing what would
happen.
Brander had seen Roy coming; he was watching the boy, and smiling a
little. The other man's back was turned. Roy strode forward, head up,
eyes blazing; he kept on till he was face to face with Brander; he
stopped, and his hands trembled.
"You, Brander," he said thickly. "You keep your tongue off my...."
Brander moved like a flash of light. He swung Roy to him, swung the boy
around, pinned his arms with one of his own, clapped his hand over Roy's
mouth.... He lifted the boy easily and carried him, thus pinned and
gagged, aft as far as the tryworks. The other man stared in
astonishment; Dan'l took a step nearer the two. The others were out of
easy hearing when Brander stopped. Still holding Roy's mouth he said
quietly:
"Don't lose your head, youngster. You'll only do harm. Speak quietly.
What do you want to say?"
He released Roy and stepped back; and again Roy showed that he was more
than a boy. He did not spring at Brander; he did not curse; he did not
weep. He stood, straight as a wire, and his eyes were blazing. His
voice, when he found it, was husky and low, so that none but Brander
could hear.
"I don't know what you're saying about my sister," said Roy. "Whatever
it is, it's not true. If you say it again, I'll kill you."
Brander's eyes shadowed unhappily. He asked: "Why do you think I have
said anything?"
"No matter," said Roy harshly. "I know. Keep your tongue between your
lips, or I'll shoot you like a yellow dog. That's all...."
He swung abruptly, and went aft so quickly that Brander made no move to
stop him. Dan'l came quietly across the waist of the ship as Brander
took a step after Roy. "Get forward, Brander," he said.