"I can be in no more danger one
place aboard her than another."
Theriere led her directly to his own cabin, cautioning her to
silence with upraised forefinger. Softly, like skulking criminals,
they entered the little compartment. Then Theriere turned and
closed the door, slipping the bolt noiselessly as he did so.
Barbara watched him, her heart beating rapidly with fear and
suspicion.
"Here," whispered Theriere, motioning her toward his
berth. "I have found it advantageous to know what goes on
beyond this partition. You will find a small round hole near
the head of the berth, about a foot above the bedding. Put
your ear to it and listen--I think Divine is in there now."
The girl, still frightened and fearful of the man's intentions,
did, nevertheless, as he bid. At first she could make out
nothing beyond the partition but a confused murmur of
voices, and the clink of glass, as of the touch of the neck of a
bottle against a goblet. For a moment she remained in tense
silence, her ear pressed to the tiny aperture. Then, distinctly,
she heard the voice of Skipper Simms.
"I'm a-tellin' you, man," he was saying, "that there wan't
nothin' else to be done, an' I'm a-gettin' damn sick o' hearin'
you finding fault all the time with the way I been a-runnin' o'
this little job.
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