"For God's love!" cried Elsie, beginning an appeal which trailed off into an outburst in the Chinese tongue.
Chang shook his head obdurately. He nodded toward Lavelle.
"They're going to let him drown," she told Emily hysterically. "Weren't enough drowned last night? This Chinaman will not do anything unless Captain Whitridge tells him."
"Him bad man. More better die," said Chang to Emily.
Again there was a cry from Rowgowskii and the boat moved with a quick jerk as he caught hold of the anchor drogue.
These cries brought to Emily Granville a memory so poignant and vivid that action was born of the shock. She moved swiftly from the Shanghai woman's side and shook Lavelle by the shoulder.
"Tell these Chinamen—tell them not to let this man drown!" she cried at him.
Lavelle sat up with a moan. His head dropped forward.
"Don't you hear? Haven't you murdered enough already? Are you altogether a fiend? Hear him crying now!"
Lavelle straightened. She shrank from the glance he leveled upon her. It was defiant, fearless, burning with challenge.