The glimmer of a smile appeared in the skipper’s eyes, and his mouth quivered pathetically just for an instant. Then he said briefly:
“Get alongside.”
“Maybe they would take me instead,” said David, but again his uncle seemed not to have heard.
Whinn did not speak again until he was standing on the submarine’s deck. Then steadily he addressed his nephew:
“Kind love to your mother, David; best respects to your young lady.”
To the crew: “So long, lads,” he said, and gave a little wave of the hand.
Then he was hurried below, and almost before the Hesperus’ boat was clear, the great engine of destruction began to submerge.
David sat with his face bowed in his hands, and now and then a shudder went through him.
Two nights later he was back in his mother’s house, seated with Esther at the parlor fire, which burned as grandly as on that night a month ago. Mrs. Cathles had gone to the kitchen to make the supper.
There had been a long silence. Suddenly David’s clasp of the girl’s hand tightened almost painfully.