Noll nodded heavily. "Oh, aye.... But, something else, Mr. Brander. I'm
goin' leave here that man in your boat. Mauger...."
Brander's lips tightened faintly; he held his voice. "Mauger?" he
echoed. "Why? What's wrong with him?"
"Don' want him around any more," said Noll slowly.
"Why not?" Brander insisted.
Noll's lips twitched with the play of his nerves, and he poured a drink
and lifted it to his mouth with unsteady fingers. He set down the glass,
spilling a little of the liquor; and he wiped his mouth with the back of
his hand. "I had 'casion to discipline Mauger," he said, with awkward
dignity, his head wagging. "I had 'casion to discipline Mauger. An' now
he's got a knife for me. He's goin' kill me. I ought kill him; put the
man shore, 'stead of that."
Brander smiled reassuringly. "Mauger's harmless, sir. And he does his
work."
Noll shook his head. "I know 'im. He's a murd'rer. I'm goin' put him
ashore."
The fourth mate hesitated; then he said quietly: "All right. If he goes,
I go too."
Noll's head jerked back as though he had been struck; and his red eyes
widened and narrowed again as he peered at Brander, and he hesitated
unsteadily. "Wha's that?" he asked. "Wha's that you say?"
"I say I'll go if he goes."
Noll's head drooped and swayed wearily; but after a moment he asked:
"Wha' for?"
"The man shipped for the cruise," said Brander. "He does his work. I'll
not be a party to putting him ashore--dumping him in this God-forsaken
hole."
Noll raised a hand. "Don' speak of God," he said reprovingly. "You don'
understand Him, Mr. Brander." Brander said nothing; and Noll's hand
dropped and he whined: "Man can't do what he wants on his own ship...."
Brander said: "Do as you like, sir. I think you should let him stay. He
means no harm...."
Noll waved his hand. "Oh, a'right," he agreed. "Say no more 'bout it at
all. Let be. Keep'm; keep'm, Mr. Brander. But lis'en." He eyed Brander
shrewdly. "Lis'en. I know one thing. He's goin' to knife me some night.
I know. He's a murd'rer. And you're defending him.... Pr'tecting him.
Birds of a feather flock t'gether, Mr. Brander." The captain got
unsteadily to his feet, raised a threatening hand. "When he kills me;
just r'member. My blood's on your own head, sir."
Brander hesitated; his heart revolted. His impulse was to leave the
ship, take Mauger, trust his luck.... But he thought of Faith. This man,
her husband, was dying.... He could see that. And when he was gone,
there would be trouble aboard the _Sally_. Faith herself meant trouble;
the ambergris in the captain's storeroom meant more trouble.... Brander
knew it might well be that Faith would need him in that day.... He could
not leave her....