"God forbid!" ejaculated she, raising her passionate eyes to heaven. "Surely I am not so wretched as that. Ah, sir, don't listen to them," she implored the man. "I will give you any money to put me ashore. There is a gentleman in Key West who may be dying for help, and he is a stranger there."
"Did you ever hear of a fellow called Brand being here?" demanded the lawyer, suspiciously.
"Oh, yes," smiled the man. "I know him well."
"Is he here?" whispered Margaret, looking piteously up at him.
"Yes, he is, at least he was three days ago, for he was nursing me, and left me last Tuesday. I am just getting about again, and haven't been in the town yet."
"There, do you hear that?" cried Margaret, turning to the lawyer with a wild smile. "Kind as ever, noble as ever. Surely you believe now that we have found him?"
"Yes," groaned Mr. Davenport; "but three days make a difference. He may be dead now."
"I will find him, and see," said Margaret.
"The woman's mad," blustered the captain, and left her to her fate.
"Nobody escapes, Miss," said the stranger, warningly.