THE CAPTAIN COMES ABOARD
paused again. Through a partly open door ahead came faint voices, for the ship with its idle engines was very still. He listened, his heart beating hard and chokingly. That was the captain talking now: "… After what you've been through, Captain … make you comfortable … find some clothes …" Then another voice came to the listener, a deeper voice, speaking slowly, wearily. …
Nelson went forward like one in a dream. The door of the captain's cabin stood half open. On the threshold he stopped and raised his hand in salute, and the captain, glancing up, saw him.
"Well, my man?" he demanded sharply.
The second occupant of the cabin was hidden by the door.
Nelson answered in a queer, weak voice: "Beg pardon, sir. May I speak to my father?"
"Eh? To your father!" The captain's gaze swept perplexedly from Nelson to the tall, gaunt figure in the chair beside him. "Bless my soul! What—what"
The man beside him was on his feet, and striding to the door, had thrown it open.
"Bless my soul!" repeated the captain.
"Nelson, boy! Is it you?" cried the stranger.
Nelson's arms went out and he clung to the tall
295
