"Now," whispered I to my companion, "the tragedy begins. We must walk up and down that the man steering may see us. Keep on the left side of the deck; it is higher than where I shall walk, and will make you look taller."
I posted her properly, and we began to measure the deck.
Anxious as I was, I could still find time to admire the courage of this girl. At no sacrifice of modesty—no, not even to the awakening of an instant's mirth in me—was her noble and beautiful bravery illustrated. Her pluck was so grand an expression of her English character, that no emotion but that of profound admiration of her moral qualities could have been inspired in the mind of any man who beheld her.
I took care not to go further than the mizzen-rigging, so that Cornish should distinguish nothing but our figures; and after we had paraded the deck awhile I asked her to stand near the quarter-boat in which I had placed the box.
I then got on to the rail and fished out the box smartly, and stood it on the rail.
"Keep your hand upon it," said I, "that it may not roll overboard."
With which I walked right up to Cornish.
"True as a hair."
"I left my coat this afternoon in one of the quarter-boats. Have you seen it?"