"Because I won't let him call me Chrysie—yet," was the reply.
CHAPTER XIX
When the Nadine left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots. For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do. On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.
Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:
"Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now. Full speed ahead, right away to Halifax. As I have told you, it is most urgent that we should be there in between five and six days. Of course, everything depends on the engines, and I think it would be well to work the engine-room staff in treble shifts, just to see that nothing goes wrong. Any accident in the engine-room would mean a good deal to me. So you may tell the stokers and engineers that if everything goes smoothly, and we get to Halifax by the 15th—that's giving you five days and a bit from now—there will be a hundred pounds extra to be divided among them when we've coaled up again at Halifax. You understand, I want those engines looked after as though they were a lady's watch."
"Certainly, my lord," replied the captain. "I hope, sir, you don't think that anything of that sort is necessary for the working of the Nadine; but, of course, the engine-room staff will be very glad to accept your lordship's generosity."
The captain blew his whistle, and the head and shoulders of a quartermaster appeared on the ladder, looking up to the bridge.
"Quartermaster, who is on duty in the engine-room?"
"Mr Williams, sir," replied the quartermaster, touching his cap.
"Ask him to be good enough to step up here for a moment."