It is not such a tragic
admission, is it? I would scarce have given it another thought were it
not for your manner this morning and your words last night. I paid no
heed at the time to the innuendo that I had come on deck to find
him--to waylay him, as I have heard men say when speaking of a type of
woman I despise. So I resolved to straighten out a stupid little
tangle. It would be ridiculous, in our present state of suspended
animation, to let such a slight thing mar our friendship."
Elsie, was indulging in that most delusive thing, self-persuasion. It
was not surprising, therefore, that she failed to note the unmixed
satisfaction with which Christobal listened.
"Am I forgiven, then?" he asked, with a new tenderness in his voice.
"Oh, yes, let us laugh at it."
"But--"
"Please let us talk of something more useful. I have a little plan,
and you might ask the captain if he approves of it. We have plenty of
strong canvas; what do you say if I set to work and cover in the
promenade deck, fore and aft as well as on both sides? Then, if the
Indians try to seize the ship, they would not be able to gain a
lodgment at so many points simultaneously.
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