Page:Ruth of the U.S.A. (IA ruthofusa00balm).pdf/124

 never obtruded himself when anyone else offered and he never failed to admit anything against himself.

"It was fine of you, Hubert," she said, "to come right for me when the fight began."

"I thought we were sinking; that's how much sense I had," he returned. "Gerry, now, knew just what to do."

"He didn't come for me first, Hubert."

"Maybe not; but you wished he had; I'm glad," he went on quickly before she could rejoin, "that this has taught Gerry a few things."

It was evident from his manner that he meant "things" in relation to her; and that puzzled her, for she could not feel any alteration in Gerry Hull's manner at all. To be sure, she had gone into the sea to try to rescue one whom she thought was he; Gerry Hull knew this. But that was not the sort of thing which could undo the opposition between them. Yet it was plain, upon succeeding days, that Hubert had discerned a fact; she had become again a person of real concern to Gerry Hull.

She dated the start of that rehabilitation of herself not with her adventure in the sea or with the moment when he carried her in his arms; but with that instant when they stood together watching the U. S. S. Starke come up. That rehabilitation proceeded fast the next days when, after the Ribot had repaired both engines, the Starke brought the ship into a convoy—a fleet of some thirty merchant vessels of all sorts and under a dozen flags, belligerent and neutral, guarded and directed by a flotilla of American destroyers, with the senior American officer in command of all the convoy.

British trawlers joined them soon, adding their protec-