Over the side had come Cherry Malotte, accompanied by an Indian girl in shawl and moccasins--a slim, shrinking creature who stood as if bewildered, twisting her hands and staring about with frightened eyes. Behind them, head and shoulders above the sailors, towered a giant copper-hued breed with a child in his arms. They saw that Marsh was speaking to the newcomers, but could not distinguish his words. The Indian girl fell back as if terrified. She cried out something in her own tongue, shook her head violently, and pointed to her white companion. Marsh's face was livid; he shook a quivering hand in Cherry Malotte's face. It seemed as if he would strike her; but Constantine strode between them, scowling silently down into the smaller man's face, his own visage saturnine and menacing. Marsh retreated a step, chattering excitedly. Then Cherry's voice came clearly to the listeners: "It is too late now, Mr. Marsh. You may as well face the music." Followed by the stares of the sailors, she came up the deck toward the old man and his daughter, who had arisen, the Indian girl clinging to her sleeve, the tall breed striding noiselessly behind. Willis Marsh came with them, his white lips writhing, his face like putty. He made futile detaining grasps at Constantine, and in the silence that suddenly descended upon the ship, they heard him whispering. "What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Wayland. "I heard you were about to sail, so I came out to see you before--" Marsh broke in, hoarsely: "She's a bad woman! She has come here for blackmail!" "Blackmail!" cried Wayne Wayland. "I thought as much!" "That's her game. She wants money!" Cherry shrugged her shoulders and showed her white teeth in a smile. "Mr. Marsh anticipates slightly. You may judge if he is right." Marsh started to speak, but Mildred Wayland, who had been watching him intently, was before him. "Who sent you here, Miss?" "No one sent me. If Mr. Marsh will stop his chatter, I can make myself understood." "Don't listen to her--" Cherry turned upon him swiftly. "You've got to face it, so you may as well keep still." He fell silent. "We heard that Mr. Marsh was going away with you, and I came out to ask him for enough money to support his child while he is gone." "His child!" Wayne Wayland turned upon his daughter's fiance with a face of stern surprise. "Willis, tell her she is lying!" "She's lying!" Marsh repeated, obediently; but they saw the truth in his face.