Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/331

 she asked something in a low voice and he shook his head slowly. Then she stamped her hoof and he seemed to give way. At last he called a man to him and gave some orders. The next thing we knew a boat was dropped and she was being rowed ashore by four sailors.

"‘Isn't it rather dangerous to let the lady go ashore?' asked Tib of the captain.

"This gave the captain a fine chance to ease his mind, and he did it by pouring out his whole heart to Tib in a comprehensive flow, but Tib was so round it all glanced off. Cap told him that Miss Mary had gone ashore to get rid of his presence. Tib shuddered. Then the cap reminded him that a British skipper takes sass from no one except the owners, and ordered him back with the rest of us. Another gilt-braid sneaked up and told Tib the cap meant nothing, that he was only feeling cross at being delayed. As to Miss Mary, he swore she was as safe when guarded by the four tars as she would be on her father's deck. Besides, the island was probably vacant, he added, and she would take a short stroll on the beach beneath the stars and then return. But Tib was uneasy. He said no one could ever diagnose the disposition of the average cut-up residing on an Oceanian isle. 'Billy,' he concluded, 'I'm cut to the heart. She won't even look at the same ocean with me.'