"Why doesn't he go below?" he asked himself impatiently.
He ventured a cough.
Whether the effect of the cough or not Captain Anthony spoke. He did not
move the least bit. With his back remaining turned to the whole length
of the ship he asked Mr. Powell with some brusqueness if the chief mate
had neglected to instruct him that the captain was to be found on the
port side.
"Yes, sir," said Mr. Powell approaching his back. "The mate told me to
stamp on the port side when I wanted you; but I didn't remember at the
moment."
"You should remember," the captain uttered with an effort. Then added
mumbling "I don't want Mrs. Anthony frightened. Don't you see? . . ."
"She wasn't this time," Powell said innocently: "She lighted the flare-up
for me, sir."
"This time," Captain Anthony exclaimed and turned round. "Mrs. Anthony
lighted the flare? Mrs. Anthony! . . . " Powell explained that she was
in the companion all the time.
"All the time," repeated the captain. It seemed queer to Powell that
instead of going himself to see the captain should ask him:
"Is she there now?"
Powell said that she had gone below after the ship had passed clear of
the _Ferndale_.
Pages:
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496