Page:The Great Secret.djvu/205

Rh the sympathetic angels, and, quaffing the bowls, sat down to enjoy an hour of true love in a quiet corner.

The ship was set full sail, with sky-scrapers and outstanding sails. The wiud was fitful and light; there was no danger of a squall. All they could expect this night was an odd puff now and again to speed them on their way. The watch was merely a sham, for they might as well have been sleeping.

A sultry tropic night, with a sky thickly studded with glowing stars, and an ocean calm and mysterious. A night for love. The mates fixed upon their tender companions, with heads swimming from the punch, and made them comfortable; then, flinging themselves at their feet, they began to talk nonsense and lose their heads, while the watch drowsily lay about the hot decks and loafed.