Roy, though he might quarrel with her most desperately, was at his heart devoted to Faith, and wild with his pride in her. He marked a look in her eyes one day; and it disturbed him. Dan'l found the boy on deck, staring out across the water, his eyes clouded with perplexity and doubt. Roy was aft; there was one of the men at the wheel. Dan'l glanced toward this man.... One of his own boat crew, by name Slatter, with a sly eye and a black tongue.... Dan'l spoke to him in passing, some command to keep the _Sally_ steady against the pressure of the wind, and stopped beside Roy, dropping his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hello, Roy," he said amiably. Roy looked up at him, nodded. Dan'l caught a glimpse of the shadow in his eyes and asked in a friendly tone: "What's wrong? You're worried about something...." Roy shook his head. "No." Dan'l laughed. "Shucks! You can't fool any one with that, Roy. If you don't want to talk...." Roy hesitated; he studied Dan'l for a moment. "Dan'l," he said, "you've known Faith and me all our lives. I guess I can talk to you if I can to anybody. And I've got to talk to somebody, Dan'l." Dan'l nodded soberly. "I'm here to be talked to. What's the matter, Roy?" The boy asked abruptly: "Dan'l--have you noticed the way Faith looks at Brander?" Dan'l had been half prepared for the question; nevertheless his fingers dug into his palms. He remained silent for a minute, thinking.... His thoughts raced.... And his eyes fell on foul-tongued Slatter, at the wheel.... There was a piece of luck; an instrument ready to his hand. Dan'l still hesitated for a space; his brows twisting.... Then the man threw all decency behind him, and flung himself at last into the paths toward which his feet had been tending. He moved to one side, so that Roy, facing him, must also face the man at the wheel; so that Roy's words would come to Slatter's ears. And Dan'l was very sure that Slatter would take care to hear.... For another moment he did not speak; then he laughed harshly; and he asked: "What do you mean, Roy?" Roy repeated: "I mean the way Faith looks at Brander all the time. Looking at him.... A queer way...." Dan'l Tobey seemed to be embarrassed; he looked to right and left, and he said huskily: "Shucks--I guess you've got too much imagination, Roy." Roy shook his head. "No, I haven't, either, I've been watching her.... She looks at him, and her eyes get kind of misty like.... And if you say something to her, sometimes she doesn't hear you at all." "She's got a right to think," Dan'l chuckled. "You talk too much, anyway, Roy.... No wonder she don't listen to you." His tone was good-natured. Roy fell silent for a moment, studying Dan'l's face; and Dan'l looked confused. Roy said sharply: "Dan'l, haven't you seen, yourself, what I mean? Haven't you, Dan'l?" Dan'l turned his head away; he would not meet Roy's eyes. Roy cried: "I knew you saw it.... Everybody must see...."