“Miss Hollister don’t seem as droopin’ as she was. I dried out a pack of cards that was in my jumper, and we played some whist. If you want to set in, Cap’n Mike, I’ll drop out. I ain’t really graceful and easy in a game where there’s more than five cards dealt to a hand.” “Thank you, but I am handicapped in the same way, Johnny. I will stroll over and pay me respects before supper.” “Miss Forbes seemed a mite peevish that you haven’t made more tracks toward their tent,” observed the engineer. “Pshaw, they are glad to have the chance to be by themselves.” Nevertheless, Captain O’Shea appeared interested when he spied Miss Forbes sauntering alone on the beach, and at some distance from her tent. “Miss Hollister is asleep and Mr. Van Steen is trying to mend his shoes with a piece of wire,” said Nora. “And I have done my week’s washing like an industrious girl, and now I’m looking for someone to play with.” “Would you like to walk to the far end of the key, Miss Forbes? And then, perhaps, ye would care to inspect the camps. We have a ship-shape little settlement, if I do say it meself.” “An exploring expedition? I shall be delighted,” cried she, unconsciously glancing at the tent which hid the chaperon and also Gerald Van Steen. They strolled a little way without speaking. O’Shea halted to gaze at the wreck of the _Fearless_. With quick sympathy, the girl understood and made no comment. He turned away with a sorrowful smile and broke the silence. “’Tis strange how close a man’s ship is to his heart. I wish I did not have to see her.” “There will be other ships for a man like you, Captain O’Shea,” said Nora. “But never a voyage like this one, Miss Forbes.” “I was thinking the same thought. For me there will never be a voyage like this, Captain O’Shea.” “For misfortune and bedivilment generally, do ye mean?” he asked rather hastily. “No, I do not mean that,” and she spoke in a low voice as if talking to herself. “I have enjoyed it. I suppose I am very queer and shocking, but I shall look back to this experience all my life and be glad that it came to me.” The shipmaster wondered how much she meant. Her intonations told him that it was something personal and intimate. Perhaps other women had made love to Captain Michael O’Shea, but never one like Nora Forbes. Amid circumstances so strange and exotic, so utterly removed from the normal scheme of things, it was as natural as breathing that speech should be sincere and emotions genuine. O’Shea had a curiously delicate sense of honor. He could not forget Gerald Van Steen. Nora had promised to marry him. Steering the conversation away from dangerous ground, he said: “I have changed me opinion of Mr. Van Steen. He has behaved very well. He did not understand us at first.” Nora was not as interested as before, and replied rather carelessly: “He has worked hard because you and Mr. Kent compelled him to.”