“Yep, remember her face when he ran away? And ever since she hasn’t been the same—”
Hank was silent for a moment.
“But, Bud, she couldn’t care for him after the way he’s landed us?”
“No, but she cared for him before, and maybe she cares for him still, Lord only knows—women are funny things. Anyhow, you’ve no right to think of her with that other girl in tow. Why, Hank, you’ve always been going on about women being saints and all that and now, you old double-dealing—”
“It isn’t me,” said Hank. “I guess it’s human nature. But I’ll bite on the bullet—after all it’s not so much as a girl I care for her, but just for herself.”
“Well, bite on what’s her name as well—Beliah—”
“Zillah.”
“All the same, keep thinking of her—and catch hold of the wheel. I want a quiet smoke.”
Half an hour later Jake wandered on deck with the mop and the bucket. He look subdued, and a few minutes later Tommie’s head and shoulders appeared.