“And don’t forget, Cleigh, that I’m master of the Wanderer until I leave it. I sympathize deeply,” Cunningham went on, ironically, “but I have some active troubles of my own.”
“And God send they abide with you always!” was Cleigh’s retort.
“They will—if that will give you any comfort. Do you know what? You will always have me to thank for this. That will be my comforting thought. The god in the car!”
Later, when Cleve helped Cunningham into his bunk, the latter asked about the crew.
“Scared stiff. They realize that it was a close shave. I’ve put the fools in irons. They’re best there until we leave. But we can’t do anything but forget the racket when we board the 260 Dutchman. Where’s that man Flint? We can’t find him anywhere. He’s at the bottom of it. I knew that sooner or later there’d be the devil to pay with a woman on board. Probably the fool’s hiding in the bunkers. I’ll give every rat hole a look-see. Pretty nearly got you.”
“Flint was out of luck—and so was I! I thought in pistols, and forgot that there might be a knife or two. I’ll be on my feet in the morning. Little weak, that’s all. Nobody and nothing!” said Cunningham, addressing the remark to the crossbeam above his head.
“What’s that?” asked Cleve.
“I was thinking out loud. Get back to the chart house. Old Newton may play us some trick if he isn’t watched. And don’t bother to search for Flint. I know where he is.”
Something in Cunningham’s tone coldly touched Cleve’s spine. He went out, closing the door quietly; and there was reason for the sudden sweat in his palms.
Chance! A wry smile stirred one corner of Cunningham’s mouth. He had boasted that he had left nothing to chance, with this result! Burning up! Inward and outward fires! Love beads! Well, what were they if not that? But that she would trust him when everything about him should have repelled her! Was there a nugget 261 of forgotten gold in his cosmos, and had she discovered it? She still trusted him, for he had sensed it in the quick but tender touch of her hands upon his throbbing wounds.