“I may tell you in confidence,” replied Mr. Morris, “that this particular portion of the boat is always very popular. Soon as the evening shades prevail the place is apt to be pre-empted by couples that are very fond of—”
“Phosphorescence,” interjected the young lady.
“Yes,” he said, with a smile that she could not see in the darkness, “of phosphorescence.”
“I should think,” said she, as they walked towards the stern of the boat, “that in scientific researches of that sort, the more people who were there, the more interesting the discussion would be, and the more chance a person would have to improve his mind on the subject of phosphorescence, or other matters pertaining to the sea.”
“Yes,” replied Morris. “A person naturally would think that, and yet, strange as it may appear, if there ever was a time when two is company and three is a crowd, it is when looking at the phosphorescence that follows the wake of an ocean steamer.”
“Really?” observed the young lady, archly. “I remember you told me that you had crossed the ocean several times.”
The young man laughed joyously at this repartee, and his companion joined him with a laugh that was low and musical.
“He seems very sure of his ground,” she said to herself. “Well, we shall see.”
As they came to the end of the boat and passed behind the temporary wheel-house erected there, filled with debris of various sorts, blocks and tackle and old steamer chairs, Morris noticed that two others were there before them standing close together with arms upon the bulwarks. They were standing very close together, so close in fact, that in the darkness, it seemed like one person. But as Morris stumbled over some chains, the dark, united shadow dissolved itself quickly into two distinct separate shadows. A flagpole stood at the extreme end of the ship, inclining backwards from the centre of the bulwarks, and leaning over the troubled, luminous sea beneath. The two who had taken their position first were on one side of the flag-pole and Morris and Miss Earle on the other. Their coming had evidently broken the spell for the others. After waiting for a few moments, the lady took the arm of the gentleman and walked forward. “Now,” said Morris, with a sigh, “we have the phosphorescence to ourselves.”
“It is very, very strange,” remarked the lady in a low voice. “It seems as if a person could see weird shapes arising in the air, as if in torment.”