"Oh, Paul—Paul," she sobbed hysterically and covering her face as if to shut something unpleasant away from her. "I—I have had such—such a horrible dream. I——"
"There, there," he said comfortingly and going in to her. She caught hold of his hand. "Everything's going to come out all right. You know you've been through an awful drive. If——I'm sorry I woke you. Try to go back to sleep for another hour."
"I couldn't—I couldn't. I was dreaming that—that you were out there in the sea and that the ship was falling on you—pressing you down, down, down! It isn't true! It isn't true!"
Her voice rose nearly to a shriek in her effort to reassure herself. He had won to his old control of himself.
"No, no, it isn't true. Now listen: We're playing a big, big game here. You're my partner. The only one I can depend on——"
"Forgive me—I don't mean to be selfish or thoughtless or whimpery—or the clinging-vine sort."
"It's all right. All right, partner. It's a wonder you've a nerve left. There are mighty few men who could have come through what you have and not be folded up now. But I want you to think of this game. It's so big, so big, that it's worth winning!" His tone, his expression, brought a smile of interest into her face. "If you think you can't sleep I want you to go down below and get into a heavy shirt like mine—the strongest, heaviest clothes you can find. I've pulled a lot out of the slop chest—socks and things. Then, there's a little room—you'll find it in a corner of the skipper's. It's filled with a lot of woman's things. There's a cedar-wood chest——You will know what to take."
"A woman's things? There was a——"
"All I can say is that the Daphne has known a woman's presence. When she was here—what has become of her—God knows."
"Before I slept I said a prayer for her. And every time I lie down to rest I will pray for her safety."