“I will strangle you,” cried Philip fiercely: “why do you not defend yourself? coward, coward!”
With an effort Gilbert tore himself loose and sent the assaillant a yard away. Then he folded his arms.
“You see I could defend myself. But get your gun and shoot me straight. I prefer that to being torn and mangled.”
Philip was reaching for his gun but at these words he repulsed it.
“No,” he said, “how come you here?”
“Like yourself, on the Adonis.”
“Oh, you are the skulking thing who did not dine with the other passengers but took the air at night?”
“I was not hiding from you, for I did not know you were aboard.”
“But you were hiding, not only yourself but the child whom you stole away.”
“Babes are not taken to sea.”