All the Brothers Were Valiant

fternoon, with Joel. She was sewing a ribbon rosette upon the hat she would wear, when she and Joel heard the sound of excited voices, and the movement of feet on th

make friends with Priss; but she was v

and Hooper, and old Aaron Burnham, and two of the harpooners, all pressing close about another man.... Finch obsc

he sun. And he wore no hat, and his thick, black hair was rumpled and wild. The white shirt that he wore was open at the throat above his brown neck. His arms were bare to the elbows. His ch

id; and he heard Finch say unctuously: "Be sure, Captain Shore, every man aboard

t shoulder. The action swung him around so that he s

said you were dea

d?" he laughed, jeeringly. "Do I look dead?" He stared at Joel more closely, glanced at the oth

ve me command of th

Finch, and grinned. "Over your

place, sir. You see, I felt very sure

s man, Jim Finch. Never jumped till you were sure where you would land

said slowly: "We've done well. Clo

oof. "Joey, Joey, you've been fiddl

g Jim Finch, and his eyes hardened. He said quietly: "If that

oward his brother. But Joel did not give ground; and after a moment in whi

ue your office. Your high office, sir. I thank you for reminding me of the--the proprieties, C

end he nodded, as though in answer to the unspoken question in his thoughts. "Will you come down int

ly, into his brother's ear, as they went aft together. "Aye, I've much to tell. Many things and marvelous. Matters you'd scarce credit,

to let Mark descend first; and Mark went down the steep and awkward stair with the easy, sliding gait of a great cat. Joel, behind him, could see the muscles

ers, kneeling on the bench, when she heard Mark's voice, and knew it. And she cried, in surprise and joy: "Mark! Oh--Mark!" And she

y, as he had been accustomed to do when he came home from the sea. But he must have been a blind man not to have seen in that firs

. "You're not dead. I k

th a quick rush of anger; but he was ashamed of it in the next moment, and sto

couldn't be dead?" he de

you were always so--so alive, or som

r. Dresses down, and hair up...." He wagged his head. "It's a wonder you did not slap my face." And then he looked from her to Joe

ou think I'd come clear around the world with...." Her words were smothered in her own hot blushes, an

at they laughed at him. When they laughed, he cast aside his panic, and sat down on the cushions, stretch

repeated. "The day before we sailed. Why? Just because. How? In the same old way." She waved her hand, as though disposing of the matter once and for all, and looked up at him, an

come later. Besides--some chapters are not for gentle ea

head, red lips pu

ded. "What do you

some delightful secret, mutually shared. Mark wagged his he

ore vigorous

rtainly the best of news...." Joel saw the mocking and malignant little devil in his eye. "I've never had a kid sister," said Mark gayl

im, nodded her lovely head once mor