Yet she knew that Boyle meant no harm by his chatter. He
was weak from his wound, and perhaps a trifle light-headed as the
result of being brought from the stuffy saloon to the airy and sunlit
chart-room. So she crushed a sorrow that was unavailing, and strove to
put the sailor at his ease again.
"I do not find any harm in your remark," she said resolutely. "Were it
possible, I should have been very pleased to see Miss Baring married to
a man of strong character like Captain Courtenay. By the way, who is
keeping watch on deck?"
"The doctor was here with me until a few minutes ago. Then the skipper
telephoned him. I guess there is some one on the lookout, but you
might just cast an eye shorewards. I'm not supposed to move yet."
He wriggled uneasily in his chair, for the spirit was willing; but
Elsie made him lie quiet; she rearranged his pillow, and stepped on to
the bridge. By walking from port to starboard, and traversing the
short length of the spar deck, she could command a view of the bay and
of most parts of the ship. She heard the dog scuttling down the
companion; on reaching the after-rail, she saw the captain engaged in
earnest, low-toned conversation with Tollemache and Walker.
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