When I came to I was first conscious of a tremendous throbbing in my temples, and opening my eyes I saw that I was below in the little cabin with the miniatures on the bulkheads. It was but a glimpse of consciousness I had, but in that glimpse I felt a soothing touch laid on my brow. Raising my eyes my heart leaped, for it was Mary bathing my head with a cold wet cloth. The joy of it may have sent me off again, for I remembered no more until I was awakened by the sound of whispering. Looking up, I saw that Cutterwaite and Mr. Middleton were standing alongside.
"Well," I said, faintly, "how fares it?"
"Another prize, Captain Hurdiss, and a good one," said Chips, bending over me. "We took the ship, sir and she's in our wake. We're not five hundred miles off Cape Cod. The wind's fair, and all's a-taunt-o."
Oh, I could have cried for the joy of it, but at this instant the curtain that had partitioned off the cabin was drawn aside, and I heard a soft voice ask,
"Is he speaking?"
"Mary!" I said, tremulously.
Mr. Middleton and the carpenter stepped to the other side of the curtain, and the one whom I had always dreamed of as waiting for me came near.
There was no pride or anger in her face, and her voice shook as she said, softly,
"Sh-h-h—you must not speak!"
