Page 313 of 416

"He planned to weaken me where I needed sail most and he

succeeded. Why, Elsa, that topm'st must have been sawed a quarter

of the way through and that mainstay as much again. I don't

really believe he did anything to the foregaff; it appeared to be

the natural result of the topm'st's falling, but the damage he

did resulted in the wreck of the schooner--"

"And the death of his own father. Yes, Code, we've got him where

he is probably the wretchedest man in the world. Fury and hurt

pride made him injure the May so he would be sure to win the

second time, and instead of that fate intervened, sent you on the

cargo voyage, and killed his father. Now it is perfectly plain to

me why he is charging you with all these crimes."

"Why?"