"No one else will come near you here," she said reflectively. "It may all be for the best in the end."
He nodded again, and, as she turned away, shut the door very quietly.
She hurried aft, to instruct Ambrizette as to the food to be prepared and carried to the sick man's door, and no less hastily returned to the bridge. Da Costa left it by the other ladder; he evidently did not care to come too near her then. And there she remained all day, with only the sullen, silent man at the wheel for company.
Once during the afternoon she slipped down to ask how the mate was, and found him delirious. Slyne came on deck as she returned to her post, and frowned angrily as she told him, in answer to his quick question, where she had been. He had obviously intended to join her up there, but thought better of that.
"You mustn't go near him again, Sallie," he called to her peremptorily. "Captain Dove will be very ill-pleased."
"I can't help that," she answered, thankful so to escape Jasper Slyne's company. And he turned away with a still blacker frown. It was tiresome talking against the stiff head-wind.
The day dragged out its dreary length, until, late in the evening, Da Costa came on deck again.
"I'm good for all night now," he told Sallie from a safe distance. "Captain Dove's still sound asleep, although the mate's been making no end of a row."
"I'll be up again some time in the morning watch, then," she told him, and was soon knocking at the door of Yoxall's room.
Carthew's face was very grave when he looked out.