Dan'l shook his head. "I doubt it. That's one way to handle men--Be one of them. They'll do anything for him, sir." Noll's eyes narrowed with the shrewdness of a drunken man. "That's the worst part of it. Will they do anything for me, Dan'l? Or for you?" Dan'l said reluctantly: "Well, sir, maybe they'd jump quicker for him." "And that's not reassuring," said Noll. "Is it, now?" "It wouldn't be, if he meant wrong. I don't think he does. Any case, he knows the 'gris is not his, in the end...." And he added: "You're concerned over Faith and him--the way they are when they're together. But there's no need, sir. Faith is loyal...." Noll looked at the mate, and he frowned. "How are they, when they're together?" "I thought you had marked it for yourself.... I meant nothing." "Nothing? You meant something. You've seen something. What is it you've seen, Dan'l?" Dan'l protested. "Why, nothing at all. There's no harm in their being friends. He's a young man, strong, with wisdom in his head; and she's young, too. It's natural that young folk should be friendly." Noll's head sank upon his chest; he said dully: "Aye, and you're thinking I'm old." "No, sir," Dan'l cried. "Not that. You're not so old as you think, sir. Not so old but what you might strike, if there was need. I only meant it was to be expected that they should be drawn together, like. Faith's young...." Noll's eyes were reddening angrily. "Speak out, man," he exclaimed. "Don't shilly-shally with your tongue. If there's harm afoot, by God, I can take a hand. What's in your mind?" "Why, nothing at all. No harm in the world, sir.... I was only meaning to reassure you. I thought you had seen her eyes when she looked at the man...." "Her eyes?" "Aye." "What's in her eyes?" Dan'l frowned uncomfortably. "Why--friendship, if you like. Liking, perhaps. Nothing more, I'll swear. I know Faith too well...." Noll said heavily: "I'll watch her eyes, Dan'l." Dan'l said with apparent anxiety: "You should not concern yourself, Cap'n Wing. It's but the fancy of youth for youth.... I...." Noll came to his feet with sudden rage in him. "Have done, Dan'l. I...." They both heard, then, Faith's step in the main cabin; and their eyes met and burned. And Dan'l got up quietly, and closed the log, and as Faith came in, he went out and closed the door behind him. Closed the door and crossed to the companion as though to go on deck; but he lingered there, listening.... Listened; but there was little for him to hear. When the door closed behind him, Faith had turned to her own cabin, hers and Noll's. Noll sat down, his eyes sullen.... He watched her through the open door to the cabin where their bunks were. She turned after a moment and came out to him; and he got to his feet with a rush of anger, and stared at her, so that she stood still.... He said hoarsely: "Faith.... By God...."