Kinraid did not speak for a minute or two.  The sailors, who had begun to take him into favour, were all agog with curiosity to hear the message to his sweetheart, which they believed he was going to send.  Hepburn’s perceptions, quickened with his vehement agitation of soul, were aware of this feeling of theirs; and it increased his rage against Kinraid, who had exposed the idea of Sylvia to be the subject of ribald whispers.  But the specksioneer cared little what others said or thought about the maiden, whom he yet saw before his closed eyelids as she stood watching him, from the Haytersbank gully, waving her hands, her handkerchief, all in one passionate farewell.

‘What do yo’ want wi’ me?’ asked Hepburn at last in a gloomy tone.  If he could have helped it, he would have kept silence till Kinraid spoke first; but he could no longer endure the sailors’ nudges, and winks, and jests among themselves.

‘Tell Sylvia,’ said Kinraid——­

‘There’s a smart name for a sweetheart,’ exclaimed one of the men; but Kinraid went straight on,—­

‘What yo’ve seen; how I’ve been pressed by this cursed gang.’

’Civil words, messmate, if you please.  Sylvia can’t abide cursing and swearing, I’m sure.  We’re gentlemen serving his Majesty on board the Alcestis, and this proper young fellow shall be helped on to more honour and glory than he’d ever get bobbing for whales.  Tell Sylvia this, with my love; Jack Carter’s love, if she’s anxious about my name.’

One of the sailors laughed at this rude humour; another bade Carter hold his stupid tongue.  Philip hated him in his heart.  Kinraid hardly heard him.  He was growing faint with the heavy blows he had received, the stunning fall he had met with, and the reaction from his dogged self-control at first.

Philip did not speak nor move.

‘Tell her,’ continued Kinraid, rousing himself for another effort, ’what yo’ve seen.  Tell her I’ll come back to her.  Bid her not forget the great oath we took together this morning; she’s as much my wife as if we’d gone to church;—­I’ll come back and marry her afore long.’

Philip said something inarticulately.

‘Hurra!’ cried Carter, ’and I’ll be best man.  Tell her, too that I’ll have an eye on her sweetheart, and keep him from running after other girls.’

‘Yo’ll have yo’r hands full, then,’ muttered Philip, his passion boiling over at the thought of having been chosen out from among all men to convey such a message as Kinraid’s to Sylvia.

‘Make an end of yo’r d—­d yarns, and be off,’ said the man who had been hurt by Kinraid, and who had sate apart and silent till now.

Philip turned away; Kinraid raised himself and cried after him,—­