Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 52: what you’re looking at

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682 arose, while Nathanael Gertridge, Sr., came forward from the chairman’s seat and wel- comed him; after which each director shook hands with him in turn. Gertridge, Sr., then escorted him to the seat of the right hand of the chairman, where in free and friendly manner the various directors asked questions, and offered suggestions regard- ing the coming voyage. The captain was treated with marked deference, since the fortunes of all were to be committed to his keeping. Before the meeting of the board ad- journed for a formal luncheon, the chair- man, according to his established precedent, rose, and inquired: “Ts there any special favor that our board can confer upon you, Captain Forbes, on the eve of your departure?” Rising at his place, Captain Forbes faced these stay-ashore gentlemen fairly. ‘Gentlemen of the board, as a last re- quest, I ask for the reinstatement of my deposed first officer, Mr. Richard Dunbar.” The vote of the full board was nine to one for restoration. Nat Gertridge, Jr., was the only vote against. For the closing minutes of the meeting, the secretary put down, “It is the will of this board, acceding to the personal request of Captain Forbes, that Richard Dunbar be reinstated, forthwith, to his former rat- ing, as first officer aboard’ our new clipper, the Valkyrie, outbound.” Forbes noted with satisfaction the surly look on Nat Gertridge’s face, as the secre- tary read this closing minute. CHAPTER XIV. A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. N the eve of Valkyrie’s departure, Mary took Richard out for a sail in her yacht, the Alcala. It was one of those rare nights, with a crescent moon reflecting a golden pathway adown the shimmering blackness of the harbor. There was no procrastination, on this occasion, as there had been for Nat Gert- ridge. In the shade of the lilacs, Mary awaited. As Richard’s hand was on the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, gate, she burst upon him, a breathless ap- parition of a sailor lass, causing even this bold visitor to catch his breath. “My word, but you startled me!” he exclaimed, with feigned alarm. ‘Too bad you heart’s so weak,” laughed Mary. In the moonlight, Richard searched for and found again that baffling light in Mary’s eyes which he had first seen at their meeting on the beach, which had remained like a remembrance of enchantment. All the way down to the waterfront, Mary clung tightly to him, in an attitude of of delicious helplessness. The warm pres- sure of her hand, and her confident depend- ence, caused emotions too deep for words. One thought was uppermost with Richard; for him there could be no higher mission than to guard and protect this wonderful girl. There was such absolute confidence in the way she leaned upon him that he muttered half aloud: ‘“A man would be less than a man if he betrayed such trust.” ‘What do you mean?” inquired the girl. “I can’t say exactly, but just for a fel- low to know that some one like you is de- pending on him is enough to make him pick up his heels, and hold up his head. “I suppose we’re most of us a bad lot, Mary, that go to sea. We follow the wildest life of the world, and play on the red, as the saying goes. But to-night, when I feel as though you trusted me, it puts me on my mettle.” They had come to the yacht squadron float, an attendant fetched the dingy, and Richard, like a man in a trance, was spirited out to the Alcala. Aboard the yacht he was still entranced, while Mary, the helpless one of the dark streets, was sudden- ly transformed into a capable young skipper, who ordered her companion to cast off moorings, unstop the sails, and haul away on halyards. ‘At last, when the Alcala was ghosting along, with a clean full and by, after shect- ing home the jib, Richard came aft, to gaze with ever increasing wonder at the slight girlish figure, who handled the big yacht with a touch.of the divine. “My word, I never saw such steering,” CoOmiclooo S EO