"You would not like heaven, then?" she replied, jesting.
"I find my present experience of it delightful, madam; but why do you say that?" he asked anxiously.
"Because there, we are told, there will be no more sea!" she answered with well-simulated gayety.
"'Tis a poor place for a sailor, then," he replied gravely, in no mood for badinage, "and I fear few of them will get there."
Price, who had followed his officer's example with the maid, now stepped up to him for his orders, necessarily interrupting the conversation.
"Price," he said to that intrepid old sailor, "you may go back to the boat and shove off, and keep her under the lee of that little point until I call you. Keep a sharp lookout, too."
"Ay, ay, sir," said the old sailor, turning to fulfil the command.
"Now I suppose the time has come for me to say good-bye to Lieutenant O'Neill," said Elizabeth.
"Oh, not yet, Miss Howard; I cannot leave you here alone until I know that you are safe."
"But your duty, sir?"