The closer the bond between man and man, or between man and woman, the
easier it is to embroil them, one with another. It is hard for an
outsider to provoke a quarrel between strangers, or between casual
acquaintances; but it is not hard for a crafty man to make dissension
between friends; and almost any one may, if he chooses, bring about
discord between lovers. And this is a strange and a contradictory thing.
When Dan'l found the whiskey in Brander's boat, and came toward Faith
with the open jug in his hands, Faith stood with a white face, looking
steadily at Brander, and not at Dan'l at all. Brander had made one move
when Dan'l lifted the jug; he had stepped quickly toward the boat, but
Faith spoke quietly to him, and he stopped, and looked at her....
Dan'l was watching the two of them. Mauger saw a chance, and as the mate
passed where the one-eyed man crouched, Mauger leaped at him to snatch
the whiskey away. Tichel caught Mauger from behind, and held him....
The little man had had the best intentions in the world; but this
movement on his part completed the evidence of Brander's guilt; for
Mauger was Brander's man, loyal as a dog, and Faith knew it. She thought
quickly, remembering the past days, remembering Mauger's furtive air
and Brander's aloofness, and his support of Mauger against Tichel....
She was sure, before Dan'l reached her with the jug, that Mauger and
Brander were guilty as Judas.... That Brander was guilty as Judas....
She scarce considered Mauger at all.
Dan'l handed her the jug, and she smelled at it. Whiskey, beyond a
doubt. She took it to the rail and poured it overside as she had poured
the contents of the bottle. Then came slowly back and handed the empty
jug to Brander.
"This is yours," she said. "You had best rinse it and fill it with water
and put it in your boat again."
The moon was bright upon them as they stood on the deck. He could see
her face, he could see her eyes; and he saw that she thought him guilty.
His soul sickened with the bitterness of it; and his lips twisted in a
smile.
"Very well," he said.