Johnston McCulley

“ Take the deck!"
Captain Adams went aft. Connor stood near the rail, looking after him. What the skipper had said was damnably true—Adams could, perhaps, do as he promised.
Ordinarily, Connor would have had no scruples. He would have laid siege to the heart of Wild Norene and won it to save his own life, if he could.
But now the scheme seemed distasteful to him. Even if such a thing were possible after the girl's mind had been poisoned against him, he did not want to play with a girl's affections only to cast her aside if he won. ”

“ I'll tell the girl what I heard you say. She's a good girl, a sweet and honest girl. I've kept her with me because I was afraid to leave her alone in some port. I worship her. Whatever I have been, Norene is honest and good.
"Tame her, then, if you can; make her love you and promise to marry you, and do it honestly and honorably. You have until we make port. I've put you in the mate's place so you'll have every chance. I'm playing fair!"
"Suppose I do not fancy making a young woman fall in love with me," said Connor. ”

“ She was the first woman he ever had met for whom he thought he could care.
What would she think of a man who would make love to a woman when he did not mean it, merely to save his own half-worthless life?
"I'll not do it!" he muttered. "There'll be some other way. I can wait until the last—put up a fight. Morgan will help me!"
He took charge of the deck and for a time worked frantically. Captain Adams watched him and recognized that Connor knew his business, that the new mate was familiarizing himself with the men and the ship. ”