“No, not if you keep your voice down,” she answered, dropping her own, and feeling that here was something she ought to know, however unpleasant or burdensome the knowledge might prove.

“Well, they are saying that the new fleet-owner, Mr. Selincourt, ain’t satisfied with things going on as they used to do, and so he has sent this young man up to spy round a bit, report the catch, keep expenses down, and that sort of thing.  Oily Dave has always reckoned to make a good picking out of the fishing, you know, and it ain’t likely he’d approve of being spied upon.”

“Why have you told me this?” demanded Katherine.  Her eyes were dilated with fear, and there was a sickening apprehension in her heart.  In that wild place, so far from law and order, a dozen dreadful things might happen, and the world would be none the wiser.

The Yankee laughed and stuffed a plug of tobacco into his left cheek.  Then he replied:  “They all say on the river that you are a powerful smart girl, and can do most things you set your mind to.  Possession is nine points of the law, you know.  You have got the Englishman here; keep him somehow—­unless you want him to leave Oily Dave’s hotel feet foremost, that is.”

Katherine gasped, and the words she would have uttered stuck fast in her throat.  A man’s life had been thrust into her keeping, and she must guard it as best she might.

“I wish you would tell——­” she began falteringly, then a door creaked at the far end of the store, and the Yankee straightened himself with great promptitude, ready for instant departure.

“Well, good morning, Miss!  Beautiful thaw, ain’t it now?  I should think the mouth of the river must go bust before to-morrow;” and with a flourish of his very seedy old hat the citizen of the United States walked out of the store.  He did not often lift his hat to anyone; for, believing that all men were equal, such observance struck him as servile.  But Katherine had a way with her that compelled respect; moreover, she was a downright gritty girl, as he expressed it:  so the hat-flourish was really a tribute to her strength of character.

As he went out of the door, Jervis Ferrars came hobbling out from the bedroom leaning on Miles.  Dressed in ’Duke Radford’s working clothes, he looked like an ordinary working man, except for that indefinable air of culture which clung to him.

“I am going to see to your father now, Miss Radford.  Miles and I have got the bed ready, and the sooner we get the poor man undressed and comfortable, the better it will be for him.”

“Thank you!” said Katherine, then shivered again as she recalled the Yankee’s words about keeping the stranger from the power of Oily Dave.

Jervis Ferrars looked at her keenly, noting the shiver and the trouble in her eyes; then he said abruptly:  “What is the matter?  Do you feel ill, or is it something fresh?”

For a moment Katherine hesitated, but he would have to be told, she knew, so she said hastily:  “It is something that—­that you must know.  I will tell you presently when I get a chance.”