"Very little tonight. I may catch some catnaps before morning, but most of the time shall be prowling about deck. You see I have no officers to rely upon. But don't worry about me—this sort of life is not new. Good night, dear girl."
She extended her arms, and drew me down until our lips met.
"You are actually afraid of me still," she said wonderingly, "why should you be?"
"I cannot tell; I have never known what it was before. Somehow Dorothy, you have always seemed so far away from me, I have never been able to forget. But now the touch of your lips has——"
"Broken down the last barrier?"
"Yes, forever."
"Are you sure? Would you not feel still less doubt if you kissed me again?"
I held her closely, gazing down into the dimly revealed outline of her face, and this time felt myself the master.
"Now I am sure, sweetheart," I whispered, the note of joy ringing in the words, "that I have won the most precious gift in the world; yet your safety, and those of all on board is in my hands tonight. I must not forget that. I am going now to find Watkins, and you have promised to lie down and sleep."
"To lie down," she corrected, "but whether to sleep, I cannot tell."