Then she felt an arm grip her
tightly round the waist, and she heard a voice, which sounded as if it
had traveled down a long corridor, shouting in her ear:
"Lean well back and trust to me. Let go!"
She had no idea that wind could blow like that, especially when the
ship was going in the same direction. It shrieked and whistled and
tore at the canvas side-awnings with a vehemence that threatened to rip
them from their stays. Courtenay held her glued to his left side, and
there was something reassuring in his vice-like grasp. She had a dim
notion that he need not squeeze her quite so earnestly, until she
passed a gangway which led to the port side, between the deck cabins
and the music-room. Then she changed her opinion; were it not for the
strong arm which held her she would have been blown into the sea.
To reach the forward saloon they had to pass the boats near which
Courtenay had halted. The sailors saw them. During the first lull one
of the men said:
"The senor captain is escorting one of the English senoritas from the
saloon."
"Where is he taking her to?" asked another.
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