Brander faced him. They were in the after cabin; and Noll sat still. "We're staying here a day," he said. Brander nodded. "Wood and stores, sir, I suppose." Noll nodded heavily. "Oh, aye.... But, something else, Mr. Brander. I'm goin' leave here that man in your boat. Mauger...." Brander's lips tightened faintly; he held his voice. "Mauger?" he echoed. "Why? What's wrong with him?" "Don' want him around any more," said Noll slowly. "Why not?" Brander insisted. Noll's lips twitched with the play of his nerves, and he poured a drink and lifted it to his mouth with unsteady fingers. He set down the glass, spilling a little of the liquor; and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I had 'casion to discipline Mauger," he said, with awkward dignity, his head wagging. "I had 'casion to discipline Mauger. An' now he's got a knife for me. He's goin' kill me. I ought kill him; put the man shore, 'stead of that." Brander smiled reassuringly. "Mauger's harmless, sir. And he does his work." Noll shook his head. "I know 'im. He's a murd'rer. I'm goin' put him ashore." The fourth mate hesitated; then he said quietly: "All right. If he goes, I go too." Noll's head jerked back as though he had been struck; and his red eyes widened and narrowed again as he peered at Brander, and he hesitated unsteadily. "Wha's that?" he asked. "Wha's that you say?" "I say I'll go if he goes." Noll's head drooped and swayed wearily; but after a moment he asked: "Wha' for?" "The man shipped for the cruise," said Brander. "He does his work. I'll not be a party to putting him ashore--dumping him in this God-forsaken hole." Noll raised a hand. "Don' speak of God," he said reprovingly. "You don' understand Him, Mr. Brander." Brander said nothing; and Noll's hand dropped and he whined: "Man can't do what he wants on his own ship...." Brander said: "Do as you like, sir. I think you should let him stay. He means no harm...." Noll waved his hand. "Oh, a'right," he agreed. "Say no more 'bout it at all. Let be. Keep'm; keep'm, Mr. Brander. But lis'en." He eyed Brander shrewdly. "Lis'en. I know one thing. He's goin' to knife me some night. I know. He's a murd'rer. And you're defending him.... Pr'tecting him. Birds of a feather flock t'gether, Mr. Brander." The captain got unsteadily to his feet, raised a threatening hand. "When he kills me; just r'member. My blood's on your own head, sir." Brander hesitated; his heart revolted. His impulse was to leave the ship, take Mauger, trust his luck.... But he thought of Faith. This man, her husband, was dying.... He could see that. And when he was gone, there would be trouble aboard the _Sally_. Faith herself meant trouble; the ambergris in the captain's storeroom meant more trouble.... Brander knew it might well be that Faith would need him in that day.... He could not leave her.... He said quietly: "I take that responsibility, sir." Noll was slumped in his chair again. "Go 'way," he said, and waved his hand. "Go 'way."