Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/84

62 He took Alan's place, watching him with a sardonic eye as he drew the tender in under the leeward quarter, made it fast, and reopened the companionway. As the girl came on deck, in a rage that only heightened her loveliness, Alan noted a glimmer of satisfaction in her glance astern as she recognized how well the fisherman had drawn up on them,

"Friends of yours, I infer?" Alan inquired.

Judith nodded: "I don't mind telling you she was ordered out of Gloucester by telegraph five minutes after you struck your bargain with this gentleman." "It would be unkind of us to keep you longer from your friends," Alan observed. "And it will save trouble if you'll be good enough to step into the dory without a struggle."

Without a word, Judith swung herself overside into the dory. Immediately Alan cast off, and for some minutes there was silence between the two men while the tender dropped swiftly astern.

Then suddenly elevating his nose, Barcus sniffed. "Here," he said sharply, "relieve me for a minute, will you? I want to go forward and have a look at that motor."

In the time that he remained between decks the fisherman luffed, picked up the dory and its occupant, and came round again in chase of the Seaventure.

When Barcus reappeared it was with a grave face.