The steward disappeared about his business. Trascott and Ainsworth loitered away. Britton and the woman were left alone with that magnetic bond of touch binding them. With the man, the impression lasted for many a day! A new, uncurbed power was loosed within him, and the woman felt the trend of its might. It thrilled and awed at the same time. She shifted her hands to a final arrangement of the bandage.
"I think it will do," she murmured in a confused way.
Britton shook himself out of a wild dream, slowly fastened his shirt-sleeve and donned his coat.
"We will go below," he said, taking her arm and guiding her down the companionway. The stewardess met them in the passage and led the way to the stateroom she had prepared, disappearing therein.
"Good-night," she said, extending both hands. "I haven't found much opportunity to thank you. To-morrow I shall tell you more."
Britton took her fingers, and the mad blood leaped in his veins again.
"To-morrow," he cried gladly. "Ah! yes, there are many to-morrows, for you stay at Algiers."
"Many to-morrows!" she exclaimed with a happy laugh, as she turned into the stateroom. "That is a sweet way of putting it. Many to-morrows!-I like that idea."
"It's hell,-isn't it, Trascott?" asked Ainsworth, dismally.
"My dear fellow," protested the shocked curate, "such liberty of expression, to put it mildly-"
"Fudge!" interrupted his friend. "You divines all agree as to the existence of an infernal region. Why shouldn't I introduce a comparison if I choose? If you don't like its rugged exterior you can at least appreciate the sentiment. It's hell-isn't it?"
"Well, well, it's decidedly unpleasant," grumbled Trascott.
"It's a bally shame!" said the lawyer, tritely. "Britton takes us away on his uncle's yacht for a cruise of the African shore of the Mediterranean. Witness our cruise! We get as far as Algiers and there his two long-suffering comrades have to stagnate while he plays the gallant to a blonde will-o'-the-wisp whom he made a show of rescuing. He found her maid, installed her at the Hotel de --, attended to her remittances from England in her stranded position and played the modern hero role to a triple curtain call-which he is certainly getting!"