She was remembering what Harrigan had said: “How
to stop McTee? Make yourself old and your skin
yellow, and your hair gray, and take the spring out
of your step.”
“Why do you keep the whip over him, Angus?
He has saved your life, and you his. Why will
you not treat him as one strong and generous man would
treat another?”
“Because I love you, Kate.”
“Angus, would you stop if you knew I loved him?”
“Is that a fair question, Kate? Even if
you said you loved him, I could not stop, because
I would have to do my best to save you from yourself.”
She looked her query silently.
“He is not worthy of you, Kate. Because
he seems generous and simple, do not be deceived.
He is capable of things which even Black McTee would
turn from. I know it, for I know his type.
But I, Kate—your head is turned; do you
hear me?”
She rose and cried: “Why have you both
thought from the first that I must choose between
you? Are there no other men in the whole world?”
He answered doggedly: “You will never find
another who will love you as we do. To one of
us you must finally belong.”
“And that is why you go ahead with your schemes
to torture Harrigan, certain that when he is finished
I will be helpless?”
“No, I am certain of nothing. But I am
absolutely sure that Harrigan stands between you and
me, and I will have him done for.”
“Let me think, Angus. You have pulled my
old world about my ears, and now I am trying to build
another kingdom where force is the only god.
Can there be such a place?”
Four bells sounded. He wondered if Hovey would
bring Harrigan at the time they had agreed upon.
And she stood with her hands pressed against her eyes,
trembling.
“In one thing at least you spoke the truth,
Angus. There are only two men left for me in
the world. I must choose between you and Harrigan.”
“Until that time comes, I must fight for you,
Kate, in the only way I know how to fight—with
both my hands, trying to kill the things that stand
between us—Hush!”
For he heard the rumble of two deep voices near the
door.
Kate and McTee both stood frozen with attention, for
one of the voices was Harrigan’s, saying:
“And why the devil have you brought me away up
here, bos’n?”
“Because we have to watch sharp, Harrigan.
There are some of the lads we can’t trust too
far, and they mustn’t overhear us when we talk.”
“Why, Hovey, they can hear us inside the cabin.”
“She cannot. This is the girl’s cabin,
and I saw her go out a while ago.”
“Well, then, what is it you want to know?”
“I’ll tell you, man to man. When
you said you were with us last night, I’ve been
thinking you might have said it for fear of the lads.”
“Hovey, you’re thick in the head.
Didn’t you hear me talk?”
