All the Brothers Were Valiant

d among the men to greet old friends and meet new ones, and came back and complimented Joel on the

second mate, so gayly that even Varde was cozened at last into a grin. Old Hooper was pathetically glad to see him. Hooper had been mate of the ship

only to be expected. Mark had captained this ship, had captained these men, on their last cruise;

h this awe, a lively curiosity as to what Mark would do.... They knew him for a quick man, dominant, one with the will to lead; and now he found himself supplanted, dependent on the word of his own younger brother.... Every one knew that Mark a

on. He was glad to be back among friends; but beyond that he did not go. He gave Joel an exaggerated measure of respect, s

and so dextrously that Priss changed her mind without knowing just why she did so. Mark took it upon himself to make up

long strings of almost-filled casks behind their boats; and boats from the shore had come off to sell fresh food. So at dusk, the anchor came up, and the Nathan Ross spread her dingy sails, and stalked out of the harbor with the utmost dignity in every stiff line of her, and

sked softly. "Were

"My dear Priss, the South Sea Islands are no place for a white man, especially when he is alone. I

at smell," she exclaimed. "But, Mark--tell me where you've

erely. "Children," he said, "

oot. "I'm not a c

could see the flickering flame which played in them, and the twist

ghtened, de

ild picture.... But always he set a bar upon his lips, caught back the words, refused to explain what it was he had meant to say. When she persisted, he laughed at

but he was below in the cabin, and she de

, and without revealing anything of the months of his disappearance, he nevertheless told them stories that held each one breathless with interest. But after supper, he went on deck with Finch, and Joel and Priss sat in the cabi

"Aye, Mark's a big man," he agreed. "Big--in many

lay wide-eyed with many thoughts stirring in her small head. She was still awake when she heard them come down into the main cabin together, Joel and Mark.

e breathing. Joel bent over her softly; and he touched her head, clumsily, with his hand, and patted i

every word; and she lay huddled beneath the blankets, eyes staring upward into the darkness of her cabin; and as she listened, she shuddered