A surge of the trunk threw him across the cabin as the steward answered my bell.  I wrote my requisition to the doctor while Shend was struggling to his feet.

‘What’s wrong?’ he began.  ’Oh, I know.  We’re slowing for soundings off Ushant.  It’s about time, too.  You’d better ship the dead-lights when you come back, Matchem.  It’ll save you waking us later.  This sea’s going to get up when the tide turns.  That’ll show you,’ he said as the man left, ’that I am to be trusted.  You—­you’ll stop me if I say anything I shouldn’t, won’t you?’

‘Talk away,’ I replied, ‘if it makes you feel better.’

’That’s it; you’ve hit it exactly.  You always make me feel better.  I can rely on you.  It’s awkward soundings but you’ll see me through it.  We’ll defeat him yet....  I may be an utterly worthless devil, but I’m not a brawler....  I told him so at breakfast.  I said, “Doctor, I detest brawling, but if ever you allow that girl to be insulted again as Clements insulted her, I will break your neck with my own hands.”  You think I was right?’

‘Absolutely,’ I agreed.

’Then we needn’t discuss the matter any further.  That man was a murderer in intention—­outside the law, you understand, as it was then.  They’ve changed it since—­but he never deceived me.  I told him so.  I said to him at the time, “I don’t know what price you’re going to put on my head, but if ever you allow Clements to insult her again, you’ll never live to claim it."’

‘And what did he do?’ I asked, to carry on the conversation, for Matchem entered with the bromide.

’Oh, crumpled up at once.  ‘Lead still going, Matchem?’

’I ’aven’t ‘eard,’ said that faithful servant of the Union-Castle Company.

’Quite right.  Never alarm the passengers.  Ship the dead-light, will you?’ Matchem shipped it, for we were rolling very heavily.  There were tramplings and gull-like cries from on deck.  Shend looked at me with a mariner’s eye.

‘That’s nothing,’ he said protectingly.

‘Oh, it’s all right for you,’ I said, jumping at the idea. ’I haven’t an extra master’s certificate.  I’m only a passenger.  I confess it funks me.’

Instantly his whole bearing changed to answer the appeal.

’My dear fellow, it’s as simple as houses.  We’re hunting for sixty-five fathom water.  Anything short of sixty, with a sou’west wind means—­but I’ll get my Channel Pilot out of my cabin and give you the general idea.  I’m only too grateful to do anything to put your mind at ease.’

And so, perhaps, for another hour—­he declined the drink—­Channel Pilot in hand, he navigated us round Ushant, and at my request up-channel to Southampton, light by light, with explanations and reminiscences.  I professed myself soothed at last, and suggested bed.

‘In a second,’ said he.  ’Now, you wouldn’t think, would you’—­he glanced off the book toward my wildly swaying dressing-gown on the door—­’that I’ve been seeing things for the last half-hour?  ’Fact is, I’m just on the edge of ’em, skating on thin ice round the corner—­nor’east as near as nothing—­where that dog’s looking at me.’