Gordon Young

“ The next morning when Gorvhalsen was on deck and Mrs. Gorvhalsen was with him and both were silent with incommunicable things between them; and Williams stood rigidly poised, his eyes going watchfully aloft and along the deck; and Eve with the weariness of youth still slept amid troubled dreams; and the two Kanakas, woebegone and shamefaced, worked in cleaning the cabin; and Old Tom and Benny, very ill, were mystified as to why they were favored by being sent to overhaul work of other men, then McGuire went up to Williams and said:
“Skipper, there isn't a boat left that'll float. ”

“ Williams came up to him as though to strike a blow; and he did, with words:
“I know what it is to be hanged! You don't. Better the cannibals. Every man of this crew shall swing. I'm taking them to the Francis Vore to give them up.”
“But you—you—Skipper! You give up yourself?”
“I give up the Heraldr.”
“But there are a thousand ways—” McGuire was painfully amazed.
“There is no way but mine. That woman—McGuire, I didn't know there were any left in the world like her. She is a woman and——”
“You know her!” ”

“ Brundage—who was he?”
“I never asked. I know this: He had a woman in his heart and broke it to be rid of her.”
“And they gave him life?”
“They gave him death,” Williams said evenly, stressing each word.
“For life, you mean?”
“He was a convict, yes. And, McGuire——”
“Yes, Skipper.”
“You go ashore to-morrow. We shall get close enough for you to make it in a boat. You'll be safe with the natives. You always are. I'm going on with the Heraldr.”
Williams turned away. He had spoken. ”