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I
Andwhenheceased,allIfoundwasafutilewhisper:“Soyouswamforourlight?”
“Yes—straightforit.Itwassomethingtoswimfor.Icouldn’tseeanystarslowdownbecausethecoastwasintheway,andIcouldn’tseetheland,either.Thewaterwaslikeglass.Onemighthavebeenswimminginaconfoundedthousand-feetdeepcisternwithnoplaceforscramblingoutanywhere;butwhatIdidn’tlikewasthenotionofswimmingroundandroundlikeacrazedbullockbeforeIgaveout;andasIdidn’tmeantogoback...No.Doyouseemebeinghauledback,starknaked,offoneoftheselittleislandsbythescruffoftheneckandfightinglikeawildbeast?Somebodywouldhavegotkilledforcertain,andIdidnotwantanyofthat.SoIwenton.Thenyourladder—”
“Whydidn’tyouhailtheship?”Iasked,alittlelouder.
Hetouchedmyshoulderlightly.Lazyfootstepscamerightoverourheadsandstopped.Thesecondmatehadcrossedfromtheothersideofthepoopandmighthavebeenhangingovertherailforallweknew.
“Hecouldn’thearustalking—couldhe?”Mydoublebreathedintomyveryear,anxiously.
Hisanxietywasinanswer,asufficientanswer,tothequestionIhadputtohim.Ananswercontainingallthedifficultyofthatsituation.Iclosedtheportholequietly,tomakesure.Alouderwordmighthavebeenoverheard.
“Who’sthat?”hewhisperedthen.
“Mysecondmate.ButIdon’tknowmuchmoreofthefellowthanyoudo.”
AndItoldhimalittleaboutmyself.IhadbeenappointedtotakechargewhileIleastexpectedanythingofthesort,notquiteafortnightago.
