A KNIFE FROM THE DARK

It was after nine o’clock that evening before I again saw young Holman, and by that time Levuka was far behind.  We had taken advantage of a stiff breeze that had sprung up about sunset, and The Waif was plunging through a moon-washed ocean, sending furrows of foam from her forefoot while the wind snored through her canvas.  I forgot the happenings of the day as I felt the quivering vessel that seemed to thrill with the ecstasy of life as she flung herself at the watery wastes ahead.  The tremor in her boards seemed to crawl into my body and warm me like wine, and I felt inclined to bless Holman instead of punching his head as I had thought of doing during the baiting I received from Miss Barbara Herndon.  The youngster had saved me from days and nights of weary monotony in sleepy Levuka, and I welcomed him gladly as he joined me on the poop.

“Say, you made a hit with the ladies!” he cried.  “Your fame as a story-teller is set upon a solid foundation.  And I don’t suppose you are inclined to thank me for giving you the opportunity to tell of the wonderful things that happened while you slumbered on the wharf?”

“Drop it,” I growled; “I’ve had enough of the joke.  By the way, what position do you hold in the expedition?”

The boy laughed.  “I hold none,” he cried, “but I’m trying to make myself useful to the Professor so that he’ll invite me to come ashore with him.  The Professor and his daughters, with Leith and half a dozen natives, comprise the full strength of the expedition, and I’m trying hard for an invitation to the field of wonders.”

“But what are you doing aboard?” I asked.

“My uncle owns The Waif,” answered the young fellow, “and he thought this trip would be a nice cheap holiday for me.  I wanted to take a run to the States, but that would have cost him money, so I allowed myself to be forced aboard the yacht.  But, Gee!  I’m mighty glad I came now.”

I glanced at his face as we turned in our walk, but he moved his head away quickly.

“So it has been pleasant?” I said.

“Pleasant?” he cried.  “Why it has been a little foretaste of heaven.  Say, I like you, and I know you like her by the manner in which you explained everything to her.  Don’t you think she’s a jolly nice girl?”

“Who?”

“Why, Miss Barbara Herndon,” he cried.

“Oh!” I gurgled.  “You took me by surprise, and I hardly knew—­well, I didn’t know what had made the trip so pleasant.”

He put out his hand, and I gripped it warmly.  There was something clean and good about the youngster.  When he glanced up at me as I took his hand, I looked into a face that was as open as the day—­a face that possessed all the passionate purity of youth, and my grip was sincere.  One didn’t ask for credentials in dealing with Will Holman.

“I liked you from the start,” he said, “but I wanted the opinion of the girls.  That’s why I put Miss Barbara up to the game of firing questions at you about that silly business on the wharf.”