BARTLETT--[_Scowling._] What’s that, ye brown devil? [_Then suddenly laughing harshly._] Yes--a strong spell to bring us luck. [_Roughly._] Git aboard, ye dog! Don’t let her find ye here with me. [JIMMY _disappears hurriedly down the ladder_. BARTLETT _remains at the edge looking down after him. There is a sound of voices from the right and presently_ MRS. BARTLETT, SUE, DREW _and_ NAT _enter, coming around the house from the rear_. NAT _and_ DREW _walk at either side of_ MRS. BARTLETT, _who is in a state of complete collapse, so that they are practically carrying her_. SUE _follows, her handkerchief to her eyes_. NAT _keeps his eyes on the ground, his expression fixed and gloomy_. DREW _casts a glance of angry indignation at the Captain, who, after one indifferent look at them, has turned back to watch the operations on the schooner below_.] BARTLETT--[_As they reach the steps of the house--intent on the work below--makes a megaphone of his hands and shouts in stentorian tones._] Look lively there, Horne! SUE--[_Protestingly._] Pa! BARTLETT--[_Wheels about. When he meets his daughter’s eyes he controls his angry impatience and speaks gently._] What d’ye want, Sue? SUE--[_Pointing to her mother who is being assisted through the door--her voice trembling._] You mustn’t shout. She’s very sick. BARTLETT--[_Dully, as if he didn’t understand._] Sick? SUE--[_Turning to the door._] Wait. I’ll be right back. [_She enters the house. As soon as she is gone all of_ BARTLETT’S _excitement returns. He paces up and down with nervous impatience._ NAT _comes out of the house_.] NAT--[_In a tone of anxiety._] Ma seems bad. We can’t do anything. I’m going for the doctor. [_As his father doesn’t seem to hear him--tapping him on the shoulder, his voice breaking._] Why did you make her do it, Pa? It was too much for her strength. Wouldn’t anyone else or any other name have done just as well? BARTLETT--[_Impatiently._] No. It had to be. NAT--When she spoke the words--and fell back in a faint--I thought she was dead. BARTLETT--[_Vaguely._] Weakness. She’ll be all right again after a rest. [_He draws_ NAT’S _attention to the schooner_.] Smart lines on that schooner, boy. She’ll sail hell bent in a breeze. I knowed what I was about when I bought her. NAT--[_Staring down fascinatedly._] How long will the voyage take? BARTLETT--[_Preoccupied._] How long? NAT--[_Insinuatingly._] To get to the island. BARTLETT--Three months at most--with fair luck. [_Exultantly._] And I’ll have luck now! NAT--Then in six months you may be back--with _it_? BARTLETT--Aye, with--[_Stopping abruptly, turns and stares into his son’s eyes--angrily._] With what? What boy’s foolishness be ye talkin’? NAT--[_Pleading fiercely._] I want to go, Pa! There’s no good in my staying here any more. I can’t think of anything but--Oh, why don’t you be fair and let me sail with you! BARTLETT--[_Sternly, to conceal his uneasiness._] Keep clear o’ this, boy, I’ve warned ye!