Reynolds had a good long sleep that afternoon.  He had been much disturbed the night before by several men in the next room, who shouted and sang until early morning.  During the evening he went out upon deck, well forward, as he wished to be alone, and away from the men who were drinking and gambling in other parts of the steamer.  It was a beautiful evening, with scarcely a ripple disturbing the surface of the water.  The air was mild, and when the sun went down, the moon rose big and cheery above the dense dark forest away to the right.  Reynolds thought over the conversation he had heard between Frontier Samson and the man known as “Curly.”  That the latter was a scoundrel he had not the slightest doubt.  His face alone would have betrayed him even if he had not spoken a word.  He was curious concerning the reference to “Gibraltar,” the “lion,” and the “lass.”

As he thus sat and mused, listening to the zip-zip of the vessel as it cut through the water, his mind naturally drifted off to her of the street crossing incident.  He wondered what had become of her.  Why had she left the railing in such a hurry, and what was the cause of the sudden pallor that had come upon her face?  Had Curly anything to do with her agitation, and was it possible that she was the girl to whom he referred?  As this idea flashed into his mind, he sat bolt upright in his chair.  It did seem reasonable when he considered it.  In fact, it gave him a certain degree of pleasure as well.  If his suspicions were true, then the girl needed protection from that brute, and was it not his duty to keep a sharp lookout, and if necessary to protect her from all harm?

And as he thought of this, the girl herself came upon deck, and walked at once toward the bow close to the tall flag-staff, which pointed upwards like a quivering slender needle.  Reynolds could see her plainly as she stood looking straight before her.  A cloak was thrown carelessly over her shoulders, and her head was bare.  What a perfect picture of gracefulness she presented to the admiring young man as he watched her by the light of the full-orbed moon.  How he longed to go forward, speak to her, and listen to her voice.  But, no, he did not dare to do that.  He must adore her at a distance and wonder what she was thinking about.

Presently an idea leaped into his mind that thrilled his entire being.  He was pushing out into the Great Unknown, with all its dangers and uncertainties.  But standing there before him was his guiding star, the one girl in all the world who unconsciously had inspired and stirred him to action.  Was she really to be his guiding star?  Anyway, the sight of her standing before him seemed to be a favorable portent of the future.

For almost half an hour the girl stood silently at the bow, apparently unconscious that anyone was near.  Reynolds remained a long time after she had gone.  It was good to be there on such a night, with no one to disturb him, alone with a fair vision before him, and a sweet peace in his soul.