They are like a lot of pet old
dogs. Wouldn't let anybody come near him if they could help it. I've
never seen anything like it. And the second mate, I believe, was like
that too."
"Well, he isn't here, luckily. There would have been one more enemy,"
said Mr. Smith. "There's enough of them without him. And you being here
instead of him makes it much more pleasant for my daughter and myself.
One feels there may be a friend in need. For really, for a woman all
alone on board ship amongst a lot of unfriendly men . . . "
"But Mrs Anthony is not alone," exclaimed Powell. "There's you, and
there's the . . . "
Mr. Smith interrupted him.
"Nobody's immortal. And there are times when one feels ashamed to live.
Such an evening as this for instance."
It was a lovely evening; the colours of a splendid sunset had died out
and the breath of a warm breeze seemed to have smoothed out the sea. Away
to the south the sheet lightning was like the flashing of an enormous
lantern hidden under the horizon. In order to change the conversation
Mr. Powell said:
"Anyway no one can charge you with being a Jonah, Mr.
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