"Big American daughter, she sling slang-good," said Filipo.
"Why did you fall in love with her?"
"Nice girl—no eat much, no scold cook, no talk about potatoes— just big fool 'bout buried treasure."
"What do you think love is?"
"Love-huh!" grunted the cook. "I like girl; girl no like me. Chase all 'round world—no good."
"That watch was given to me by the man I love, Filipo," said Pauline.
"You won't-boil it—or anything, will you?"
As Filipo took the tiny diamond-scarred timepiece from Pauline's hand there was a sound as of some one choking at the top of the steps.
The cook sprang to the deck, but there was no one in sight. He returned to Pauline, while Blinky Boyd, gasping more from astonishment than fear, reeled up to Owen and Hicks on the forward deck.
"She's gone clean crazy," he panted. "She treats that there cook as if he was a nat'ral human man instid of a sea-rovin' gorilla, worse'n the one I beat In Afriky."
"No more gorillas for a while, Blinky," commanded Hicks. "What's happened now?"