So I, too, stayed up on deck. But I knew it was useless. If Dahler wanted to sit and watch Jorgensen he could do it any time the starboard watch was on duty. If only I'd arranged it so that they were both in my own watch. I could have kept my eye on them then. As it was I had to sleep sometime.
That night my watch came off duty at midnight. The forecasts were of gale warnings on practically all coasts of the British Isles. The wind had already veered to the sou'-west. We had gybed in the course of our watch and for the first time since we left the Thames estuary we were leaning our starboard scuppers under. I had stowed the mizzen to avoid it blanketing the mainsail. 'Watch it,' I told Dick. 'I don't think the wind will back, but if it does suddenly, you'll have to gybe. And keep an eye on the wind force. If it blows much harder that yankee will have to come off.'
I left him then and went below. Dahler had already gone to his cabin. I could see the light on under the door. Jill and Wilson were drinking tea laced with rum. She filled a mug for me. 'Rum?' she asked, and poured it without waiting for my reply. Her face was very pale and her eyes looked bright, almost feverish. She handed me the mug. 'Cheers!' I said, watching her over the rim of it.
As soon as Wilson had gone for'ard to the foc's'le she said, 'Are you doing a deal with Mr Jorgensen, Bill?' Her voice was jerky and pitched a shade high.
'How do you mean?' I asked.
'That's what Mr Dahler told me,' she said. 'He said you and Jorgensen were joining forces — against George Farnell.'
'Against George Farnell — ' I didn't get it. 'George Farnell's dead,' I reminded her.
She nodded. 'That's what I told Mr Dahler. But he only said, "Don't lose Gansert — that's all".'
'Did he ask you to have a talk with me?'
'Not exactly. But-' She hesitated. Then she took a step towards me and caught my arm. 'Bill. I'm scared. I don't know why. There's something about this boat to-day. Everybody's on edge. Everybody's asking questions.'