and one gaunt youth whose sole knowledge
of navigation had been gained on an Atlantic City catboat. Her
destination was vague - Panama perhaps, possibly a South American
port, depending on the weather and the whim of the owner.
I do not recall that I performed the nautical rite of signing articles.
Armed with the note McWhirter had secured for me, and with what I
fondly hoped was the rolling gait of the seafaring man, I approached
the captain - a bearded and florid individual. I had dressed the part - old
trousers, a cap, and a sweater from which I had removed my college
letter, McWhirter, who had supervised my preparations, and who had
accompanied me to the wharf, had suggested that I omit my morning
shave. The result was, as I look back, a lean and cadaverous six-foot
youth, with the hospital pallor still on him, his chin covered with a
day's beard, his hair cropped short, and a cannibalistic gleam in his eyes.
I remember that my wrists, thin and bony, annoyed me, and that the girl
I had seen through the opera-glasses came on board, and stood off,
detached and indifferent, but with her eyes on me, while the captain
read my letter.
When he finished, he held it out to me.
"I've got my crew," he said curtly.
"There is n't - I suppose there's no chance of your needing another
hand?"
"No." He turned away, then glanced back at the letter I was still holding,
rather dazed. "You can leave your name and address with the mate over
there. If anything turns up he'll let you know."
My address! The hospital?
I folded the useless letter and thrust it into my pocket. The captain had
gone forward, and the girl with the cool eyes was leaning against the
rail, watching me.
"You are the man Mr. McWhirter has been looking after, are n't you?"
"Yes." I pulled off my cap, and, recollecting myself - "Yes, miss."
"You are not a sailor?"
"I have had some experience - and I am willing."
"You have been ill, have n't you?"
"Yes - miss."
"Could you polish brass, and things like that?"
"I could try. My arms are strong enough. It is only when I walk -"
But she did not let me finish. She left the rail abruptly, and disappeared
down the companionway into the after house. I waited uncertainly. The
captain saw me still loitering, and scowled. A procession of men with
trunks jostled me; a colored man, evidently a butler, ordered me out of
his way while he carried down into the cabin, with almost reverent care,
a basket of wine.
When the girl returned, she came to me, and stood for a moment,
looking me over with cool, appraising eyes. I had been right about her
appearance: she was charming - or no, hardly charming. She was too
aloof for that. But she was beautiful, an Irish type, with blue-gray eyes
and almost black hair. The tilt of her head was haughty. Later I came to
know that her hauteur was indifference: but at first I was frankly afraid
of her, afraid of her cool, mocking eyes and the upward thrust of her
chin.
"My brother-in-law is not here," she said after a moment, "but my sister
is below in the cabin. She will speak to the captain about you. Where
are your things?"
I glanced toward the hospital, where my few worldly possessions,
including my dress clothes, my amputating set, and such of my books
as I had not been able to sell, were awaiting disposition. "Very near,
miss," I said.
"Better bring them at once; we are sailing in the morning." She turned
away as if to avoid my thanks, but stopped and came back.
"We are taking you as a sort of extra man," she explained. "You will
work with the crew, but it is possible that we will need you - do you
know anything about butler's work?"
I hesitated. If I said yes, and then failed -
"I could try."
"I thought, from your appearance, perhaps you had done something of
the sort." Oh, shades of my medical forebears, who had bequeathed me,
along with the library, what I had hoped was a professional manner!
"The butler is a poor sailor. If he fails us, you will take his place."
She gave a curt little nod of dismissal, and I went down the gangplank
and along the wharf. I had secured what I went for; my summer was
provided for, and I was still seven dollars to the good. I was exultant,
but with my exultation was mixed a curious anger at McWhirter, that
he had advised me not to shave that morning.
My preparation took little time. Such of my
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