"Oh, of course, if we do not reach the shore we shall none of us be able to do anything," she said, dropping her head, for she stood close enough to the binnacle light to enable me to see her movements and almost catch the expression on her face. "I mean what will you do when we get ashore?"
"I must try to get another ship."
"To command?"
"Oh dear no! as second mate, if they'll have me."
"If command of a ship were given you would you accept it?"
"If I could, but I can't."
She asked quickly, "Why not?"
"Because I have not passed an examination as master."
She was silent again, and I caught myself listening eagerly to the sound of the pumping going on on the main-deck and wondering at my own levity in the face of our danger. But I could not help forgetting a very great deal when she was at my side.
All at once it flashed upon me that her father owned several ships, and that her questions were preliminary to her offering me the command of one of them.