He held her close to him.
"There is rare courage in you," he said. "Call it out; make it stand by you."
"I am not afraid now—for myself. But you'll be going on deck. I'm afraid for you."
The light was dim where they stood; but he looked into her eyes, and there seemed a fine brightness through the world.
"You fear for me because I am your man," he said to her. "Is it so?"
"Yes," she said, quietly.
He put her hair back from her brow and kissed her there.
"I am satisfied," he said. "You belong to me. And, because of that, there is nothing in life that shall harm you."
He went into his cabin, and he came out with a brace of pistols; one of them he gave to her.
"Stay here," he said, "and keep this by you, in case of need."