“You tell the other men what I say—that I would cook for you all if I were let out of here. But I must be guaranteed that you will not harm me if I do this.”
“Who’d want to harm you, Miss?” returned the man, with some sharpness.
“I don’t know that anybody would. I am sure if I worked for you, and cooked for you, you would not see any of your mates hurt me?”
“No, indeed, Miss,” said the fellow warmly. “Nor anybody else. I’ll tell the other boys. And I’ll speak to Mr. Boldig——”
“Send him here,” interrupted Ruth quickly. “Tell him I want to speak to him. But you speak to your mates and tell them what I am willing to do. If I cook for you I want ‘safe conduct.’”
“Of course, ma’am. Nobody shall hurt you. And I’ll tell Mr. Boldig to come.”
Within half an hour she heard Boldig’s quick step upon the deck. He barked in at the open window:
“What’s this you are up to, Miss Fielding? You’ll set my men all by the ears. You are a dangerous character, I believe. What do you mean by telling them you will cook for them if I let you out of your room?”
Ruth thought he was not so angry as he made out to be. She said boldly:
“I am willing to earn the good will of the men in that way, Mr. Boldig. You know why I do it. I shall appeal to them if you undertake to treat me in any way unbecoming your position as a gentleman and an officer.”