"No, no!" she soothed. "Lie still, beloved. It was only an accident. It does not hurt me—nothing can hurt me, Juan, now that we have found each other!"
"Dearest one!" I whispered.
She bent close above me, with her soft round arm about my neck,—and quickly all my pain and rage died away and were forgotten under the glory of the golden love-light in her tender eyes.
Dr. Cuthbert coughed, then took snuff. At that moment we would not have heeded a cannon roaring in our ears.
At last, however, Father Rocus entered, followed closely by Captain Powers. Alisanda quietly rose to face them, but held to my hand as a mother would clasp the hand of the child she sought to defend. The captain stared at her between anger and admiration.
"Mademoiselle Vallois!" he rumbled. "What does all this mean? How dare you interfere with the discipline of my ship?"
"How dare you, who call yourself an officer and a Christian, torture so hideously this gentleman?" she returned.
"Gentleman?—Torture?" he echoed, taken aback.
"The gentleman I am betrothed to marry."
"Marry!—Him?"