He smiled sneeringly: "I'm thinking we're here to stay, Faith. Leastwise, the Sally...."
"The Sally does not stay here," Faith told him sternly. "She floats; she fills her casks; she goes safely home to Jonathan Felt," she said. "Mark that, Dan'l. That's the way of it, and nothing else."
Dan'l said sullenly: "You're not over concerned for Noll's going."
"He's gone," said Faith. "An end to that. But the Sally was his charge; she's my charge now. I mean to see her safe."
"Your charge?" Dan'l echoed. "It's in my mind that when the captain dies, the mate succeeds."
"You take his place, if I choose," Faith told him.
He met her eyes, tried to look her down. Mauger had slipped away; old Tichel, and Willis Cox, and Brander were standing by. "You take his place, if I choose," Faith repeated. And Dan'l looked from her to the faces of the officers....
There was a weakness in Dan'l's villainy; he could destroy, he could undermine trust, seduce a boy, kill honor.... But he lacked constructive ability. He had known for months that this moment must come, this moment when Noll was gone, and the ship and all the treasures aboard her should lie ready to his hand. Yet he had made no plan for this crisis; he did not know what he meant to do. Even now, by open battle he might have won, carried the day. Old Tichel was certainly for him; perhaps Willis, too. And Roy.... And many of the men.... A blow, a fight, and the day might have been his....
But Dan'l was never a hand for strife where guile might do as well; he was not by nature a man of battle. Also ... Faith was within his reach, now; Noll was gone; there was no barrier between them; he need not anger her, so long as there was a chance to win by gentler ways.... Gentler ways, guileful.... He nodded in abrupt assent.
"All right," he said. "You were Noll's wife; your interest is a fair one.... I'll work with you, Faith...."