Joel nodded at that. “Asa meant wisest, I’ve no doubt,” he agreed. “But—Mark would do nothing that he was shamed of.”
“Mark Shore,” said Aaron thoughtfully, “did many things without shame for which other men would have blushit.”
Joel said curtly: “Aaron, ye’ll say no more such things as that.”
“Ye’re right,” Aaron agreed. “I should no have said it. But—’tis so.”
Joel left him and went on deck, and his eyes were troubled.... Priss was there, with Dick Morrell showing her some trick of the wheel, and they were laughing together like children. Joel felt immensely older than Priss.... Yet the difference was scarce six years.... She saw him, and left Morrell and came running to Joel’s side. “Did you sleep?” she asked. “You needed rest, Joe.”
“I rested,” he told her, smiling faintly. “I’ll be fine....”
V
They drifted past Pernambuco, and touched at Trinidad, and so worked south and somewhat westward for Cape Horn. And in Joel grew, stronger and ever, the resolve to hunt out Mark, and find him, and fetch him home.... The blood tie was strong on Joel; stronger than any memory of Mark’s derision. And—for the honor of the House of Shore, it were well to prove the matter, if Mark were dead. It is not well for a Shore to abandon his ship in strange seas.