“I guess it’s a mighty harmless spook, anyway,” he said lightly. “The poor darn thing’s pinned right down to that spot. He hasn’t moved a yard since I first located him days back. But maybe you’re right though, kid. There’s no sort of use standing around gawking at a fool spectre that hasn’t sense but to stand around waiting to show himself when the sun shines. He ought to know better. Moonlight’s his playtime. Yes, come right along, and we’ll beat it back to your Mum.”
For all the man’s banter he hurried the girl down the deck, carefully avoiding the spot where the shadow had stood. They stood for a moment at the down-haul cleats, and Claire looked back over the deck. She felt safer here. There was McLagan, big and smiling. And there, beside her, was the means of retreat.
“I guess I’m not brave, Ivor,” she smiled a little pathetically. “When it comes to that sort of thing I’m like dead mutton. I’m not scared of a thing living. But the dead——”
“Dead?”
Claire nodded.
“Sure. Some one was killed right there. A big man. Do you wonder this vessel blew right in here without a soul on board? I don’t.”
She turned to the rail, and the man moved to her assistance.
“Can you manage that ladder, Claire?” He had no comment to offer concerning her summing up of the thing they had both witnessed. His only desire at the moment was her safe departure from the mystery boat and its haunting. “Can you?” he went on.
Then of a sudden he reached out and caught her slight body in his arms. In a moment he had lifted her on to the rail and held her safely while she set her feet on the rungs of the ladder beyond it. He waited while she lowered herself step by step. He was still holding her warm, soft hands firmly in his when her now smiling thankful eyes came on a level with his.
“It’s all right, Ivor,” she nodded. “Guess I’m safe now. But, but you’re strong lifting me that way. You’re coming right along down, too.”