Again he tried to pass Dick, and could not. Keeling leaned back against the table with his hands in his pockets.
"Murder?" he asked of Baxter with uplifted brows. Baxter nodded, and Keeling laughed a little harsh laugh.
"Stewed in your own gravy, Cap'n," he said. "You wouldn't let me touch her, and now you've lost her yourself."
Dick looked at him with interest.
"I wish it was you I had to deal with, my man," he murmured. "Captain Scott, I apologise for my intrusion, but I have my duty to perform. I must remove the prisoner at once."
Scott straightened up and his white, rigid face was dangerous.
"We are two men to two," he said. "I don't care what uniform you wear, or what warrant you carry. You shall not have her. I'll call the whole ship out before I let you take her."
"I don't think that the gentleman behind you intends to endanger his life in a quarrel of this sort. You had better be wise, Captain Scott. There are always more where we come from, you know."
Scott glanced at Keeling and glanced away again. It was as Dick had said. The odds were three to one.
"Will you fight me for her?" he asked.
"I wish I could," said Dick sincerely. "You're a straight man, sir, and I'd be happy to oblige you. But it is against my orders, and you can only get yourself arrested if you interfere."
"You mean to take her—for this?"
"Yes."
"Does she know it?"
"Yes."
"But she" He was silent a moment, thinking. Then he sprang straight at Dick. "She loves you," he cried. "She loves you, you blackguard, and you can do this to her!"
Dick met him as promptly, and the two men grappled. It was a short struggle, but a very sharp one. For though Dick was the taller and the heavier, Scott had courage and plenty of science. But it was the tumult of his own heart
