The girls never spoke; but Ferrier
thought of one of them that her fateful silence was more full of
eloquence than any spoken words could be. She seemed to draw solemn
music from every nerve of his body. Oh, droll John Blair! Did those
placid, good blue eyes see anything? The deep contralto note of Marion
Dearsley's voice broke the entranced silence.
"It seems a waste of one's chances to leave this, but we must go. Lena
and I must trouble you to help us, though I'm sure I don't know why. I
shall never forget that sight."
"Nor I," thought Ferrier; but he was not an accomplished lady's man, so
he did not speak his thought.
Then Lewis and Mr. Blair fell into one of their desultory conversations,
with Tom as explanatory chorus, and Fullerton brooding alongside in
profound reverie. The breeze was enough to send the schooner past the
trawlers, but her foresail had been put against her so that she kept
line. An hour before the trawls were hauled Ferrier suggested that the
yacht should be allowed to sail, just to see if a case could be picked
up. Said the enthusiast Tom--
"I'll go with you. I can step into the boat now, but when you have
sixteen stone to drop on the top of a tholepin, I assure you it makes
you cautious. In my wild days I should have used terms, sir--oh,
distressing! oh, harrowing! To-night I'm ready for a thingumbob on 'the
blue, the fresh, the ever free.' Ah! entrancing! Oh-h-h! bewitching!"
Freeman sailed his craft and threaded the lines of the dragging trawlers
with stealthy speed.
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