"And I tell you, in turn, that it is nothing of the sort. I've sailed the Miele here, master, if you please, all the way from Tahiti--even if I did lose her, which was the fault of your Admiralty charts. I am a navigator, and that is more than your Solomons captains are. Captain Young told me all about it. And I am a seaman--a better seaman than you, when it comes right down to it, and you know it. I can shoot. I am not a fool. I can take care of myself. And I shall most certainly buy a ketch, run her myself, and go recruiting on Malaita."
Sheldon made a hopeless gesture.
"That's right," she rattled on. "Wash your hands of me. But as Von used to say, 'You just watch my smoke!'"
"There's no use in discussing it. Let us have some music."
He arose and went over to the big phonograph; but
