You didn't see 'm go by you, did
you, sir?"
"No," I admitted. "They never went by me."
Poor Tom Spink groaned.
"But there are lines aloft there on which they could cross over from
mizzen to jigger," I added. "Send Wada to me."
When the latter relieved me I went aft. And there in a row were our
three pale-haired storm-waifs with the topaz eyes. In the light of a
bull's-eye, held on them by Louis, their eyes never seemed more like
the eyes of great cats. And, heavens, they purred! At least, the
inarticulate noises they made sounded more like purring than anything
else. That these sounds meant friendliness was very evident. Also,
they held out their hands, palms upward, in unmistakable sign of
peace. Each in turn doffed his cap and placed my hand for a moment
on his head. Without doubt this meant their offer of fealty, their
acceptance of me as master.
I nodded my head. There was nothing to be said to men who purred
like cats, while sign-language in the light of the bull's-eye was
rather difficult.
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