"Isn't he here, boss?" and the man that Candlass had spoken to looked along the decks as if he expected to see the Inquisitive One somewhere at work. Candlass went slowly up the alleyway. Scholar did not observe his approach until the boss's hand was on his shoulder, and he pushed his armful of hay aside to let Candlass go past, a steer on the side toward which he moved immediately tearing at the bundle.
"There's a man short, isn't there, Scholar?" asked Candlass.
"Don't know," answered Scholar, and was aware that Candlass peered sharply at him before hailing Mike.
"What's the matter with that man, Mike, the man that has the mouth organ?"
There was distress on Mike's forehead as he answered: "I don't know."
"You should know," said Candlass. "You're the straw boss."
"Yes, yes, I'm the straw boss maybe, but I'd rather work meself than——" and he said no more. Only Scholar, near Candlass, caught the response of: "Oh yes, quite so."
Then the boss went aft; and all the men along the alley, for some reason, turned and looked at his back. Even after he had disappeared they continued to pass the hay without a word, then they looked along the alley again, and coming forward was the Inquisitive One. The mouths of several of the men opened, an upright furrow showed between their brows. What they saw seemed inconceivable, for the Inquisitive One appeared to have shrunk, was deathly white, did not look the same man. Behind him Candlass walked, shoulders a little bent, as one under a burden, lips puckered, and eyes on the deck; and the Inquisitive One fell to work, making a whimpering sound ever and again. He was changed, as a cat that has been dipped in a tub of water, but he never told any of the men what Candlass had done to him. Some asked, who had his gift, or failing, of inquisitiveness; others left it to him to tell if he cared to; but none heard. Probably it was a bear-hug that the Inquisitive One had received, alone in the cattlemen's cabin where he sulked over Mike's contempt for those who objected to working with three men short—for Candlass had arms like steel.