Pagina 8 van 416

Schofield's face paled slightly and his mouth closed tightly,

exhibiting the salience of his jaw.

"So that's it, eh? Thinks I ran her under for the insurance--the

old barnacle. Is that around the island, too?"

"I guess it must be, or I shouldn't have heard about it. You

didn't, of course, did you, Code?"

"I hardly expected you would ask that, Elsa. Why, I loved that

old schooner like I love--well, my mother."

"I believe you, Code; you don't need to ask that. I just wanted

to hear you deny it. But you know there were some queer things

about her sinking just then, when she was supposed to be in good

condition. Nat Burns--"

"Ha! So he is in it, too. What does he say?"

"He says that her insurance policy was just about to run out. Is

that so?"

"Yes."

There was a tone of defiance in his answer that caused her to

look up at him quickly. His blue eyes were narrowed and his face

hard.

"And it wasn't such a hard gale, was it?"

"No. I've weathered lots worse with the May. I can't explain why

she sank."