A meagre form sprang upright in the bunk at the sound of his voice. Two bare, skinny arms reached out to him. Then with a single stride Saltash was beside the bunk and was holding tightly to him a small, whimpering creature that hid its face very deeply against his breast and clutched at him piteously whenever he sought to raise it. Saltash bent his dark head over the fair one and spoke very gently, yet with authority. "It's all right, child. I know. I've known all along! Don't fret yourself! There's no need. I've got you under my protection. You're safe." "You--know!" whispered the muffled voice--Toby's voice, but strangely devoid of Toby's confidence. "What must you--think?" "I!" Saltash laughed a little. "I never think. I give everyone--always--the benefit of the doubt; which is considerably more than anyone ever gives me." "And--you saved my life!" gasped Toby "Why did you? Why did you?" "I wanted it," said Saltash promptly. "Now listen a moment! We've done with this show. It's played out. We'll ring up on another. You've got to change your name again. I'm telling everyone you're Larpent's daughter." That brought the fair head upwards very swiftly. The blue eyes with their short black lashes looked straight up to his. "But--but--Captain Larpent--" "Oh, never mind Larpent! I'll square him." Saltash's look flashed over the pale, tear-stained face. His hold, though close, no longer compelled. "Leave it all to me! Don't you fret! I'll square Larpent. I'll square everybody. You lie low till they put us ashore! After that--do you think you can--trust me?" He spoke with comically twisted eyebrows and a smile half-kindly and half-quizzical. And the forlorn little creature in his arms turned with a swooping, passionate movement, caught one of his hands and pressed it to quivering lips. "I'll live--or die--for your sake!" the trembling voice told him. "I'm just--yours." Saltash stopped abruptly and laid his face for a moment against the shorn, golden head. Just for that moment a hint of emotion showed in his strange eyes, but it was gone instantly. He raised himself again with a grimace of self-ridicule. "Well, look here! Don't forget to play the game! Larpent--your daddy--is knocked out, remember. He is unconscious for the present, but the doctor chap seems to think he'll be all right. A nasty suspicious person that doctor, so watch out! And let me see! What is Toby short for? I'd better know." "Antoinette," whispered the lips that still caressed his hand. "Antoinette!" Saltash's hand closed softly upon the pointed chin, softly lifted it. "I think _Mignonette_ would suit you better," he said, in his quick, caressing way. "It's time I chose a name for you, _ma chère_. I shall call you that." "Or just Nonette of Nowhere," breathed the red lips, piteously smiling. "That would suit me--best of all."