"I quite agree", said Philip. He felt that he could very well do without seeing his parents-in-law again.
Sholto wore a strange look of joy.
The next morning the wind had fallen enough to allow the first officer to be lowered over the side in the Captain’s cutter to examine the leak. The sea was a bright hard blue and the waves were crinkling under the wild west wind. His movements were watched with fascination by those on deck. He opened his mouth and shouted cryptic remarks to the Captain leaning over the side. He put out his hand and felt the injured part like a surgeon concentrating on an operation. Then he was hauled up again. Everyone crowded round him. He was loath to relieve their anxiety and only the presence of the cheerful Captain made him say:
"Ah, I dare say she’ll do. That is, if there are no squalls. The leak will be four feet out of the water if the sea gets no worse. She may do-but we’ll hae to keep at the pumps".
The Alanna had turned back with the sound of thunder in her sails as she veered. Now, to the wind she had struggled against for so many days, she surrendered herself, let it drive her back toward Ireland and strained every inch of canvas to be there with the least loss of time. But the shifting of the ballast made her awkward. No one could forget the way she listed. It was as though everyone on board had suddenly become lame, leaning to one side when they walked.
And there were the pumps always to be kept going, forcing out the briny water that stretched in monstrous fathoms waiting to force its way in again. Aching backs, hands blistered, then calloused, monotonous hours that wove the day and night into one chain of weariness and boredom. Every now and again the boredom changing to apprehension at the sight of a ragged cloud that looked like the possible mother of a squall. Of all those on board Adeline was the most buoyant. In her handsome clothes that were so unsuitable to the situation she carried assurance and gaiety wherever she went. She would, for all Philip’s remonstrances, take her turn at the pumps. She learned sea chanties from the sailors, though she never could keep on the tune.
A strange intimacy sprang up among the passengers. They seemed to have known each other for years. Their faces, their gestures, their peculiarities were etched on each other’s minds. Then, on the eighth day, the dim shape of Ireland became visible on the horizon.
IV. Repairs
Galway Bay lay blue and tranquil, church bells were ringing as the barque, at a melancholy angle, moved slowly into the port. Then, for the first time in ten days, the pound of the pumps ceased. The ear-drums of those on board were freed to take in the sound of the bells and the singing of birds.
Adeline stood in the bow facing the light breeze that carried warm scents of the land. Her nostrils quivered and she gave a little laugh. Mr. Wilmott came up just in time to hear it.
"You are fortunate to be able to laugh, Mrs. Whiteoak", he said. "To me this is a most depressing return".
She looked at him over her shoulder, her white teeth gleaming between her parted lips.
"Why", she exclaimed, "aren’t you glad to smell the land again-and hear the bells?"
"Not the Old Land", he answered bitterly. "Not these bells. I never expected to be here again. I want the New World".
"Well, you’ll get it, if only you have patience. You might be at the bottom of the sea. I’m thankful to be alive!"
"You are different. You are young and full of hope".
"But you aren’t old! And you have told me of interesting plans you have. This is just a mood. It will pass".
He smiled too. "Of course it will. I certainly cannot feel downcast when I am near you".
The ayah stood near by with the baby in her arms, her pale-coloured robe fluttering about her emaciated figure. It was the first time she had been on deck since her bout of sea-sickness and she looked scarcely able to stand, let alone carry the child. But her heavy-lidded eyes shone with joy at the sight of the green land and little Augusta held out her hands toward the gulls that came circling about the ship.
Philip strode down the deck.
"I have the luggage ready!" he exclaimed. "I’m not leaving any of our valuables on board".
"The Captain says they will be safe".
"Humph! Anyhow, we shall need our things. This leak isn’t to be mended in a jiffy".
"Have you seen my brothers?" she asked. "Have they got their things together?"
"Here is Sholto to answer for himself". Philip eyed the boy sternly. He was laden with his belongings, gathered together in promiscuous fashion. His pale face was alight with exhilaration.
"I can scarcely wait", he exclaimed in an exaggerated brogue, "to plant me feet on the ould sod! Praise be to God, I shall sleep in a dacent bed and put me teeth in some dacent food before long!"
As he advanced he let fall one article after another on the deck but he appeared unconscious of this.
"Where is Conway?" demanded Adeline.
"I can’t make him stir. He’s still in bed. Mary Cameron is with him".
"Merciful heavens!" cried Adeline.
Philip threw them both a warning look. Mr. Wilmott considerately moved away, out of hearing.
"She is packing his things for him", went on Sholto. "He says he is too tired and the silly girl believes him! She believes whatever he says and does everything he tells her".
"I shall attend to him", said Adeline.
With her eager step she went swiftly along the slanting deck. She hastened down the companion-way and through the narrow passage where most of the cabins were separated from public view by only a curtain. The smell of this passage she felt she would never forget. All the smells of the ship below deck seemed concentrated here-the smell of stale cooking, the smell rising from the livestock, the smell of the lavatory! What discomfort she had endured! The sweet land breeze made it suddenly almost tangible-discomfort and fear.
She stood outside Conway’s door listening but there was so much noise of movement and shouting she could hear nothing. She opened the door.
Conway lay stretched on the berth, a happy smile on his face, his pale hair falling about his cheeks. His long greenish eyes followed every movement of Mary Cameron who was bent over a portmanteau carefully packing his toilet articles, under his direction.
"Well, this is a pretty sight!" cried Adeline. "Oh, you lazy pig, Con! Get up out of that and do your own work! Mary, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Why aren’t you helping your mother?"
Mary raised a flushed face. She said, with a touch of defiance:
"Everything is done for my mother. She is resting till we disembark".
"Then go and sit by her. Don’t you know better than to be alone with a young man in his cabin? Have you travelled half-way round the world and learnt nothing?"
"My mama has told me", answered Mary, "to be afraid of Indians and to be afraid of Chinamen and Frenchmen, but she has not told me to be afraid of Irishmen".
Adeline found it hard not to laugh but she said sternly: "Then she did wrong, for they are the worst of all. Now run off. If Con needs help I’ll give it to him". She pushed Mary out of the room.
She came to her brother and took him by the ear. She bent down and put her face close to his.
"Con", she said, "have you ever laid a bad hand on that girl?"
With the shamelessness of a child he distorted his face against the pain of his ear.
"Let me be!" he said. "I shan’t tell you".
"You will or I’ll tell Philip to question you. You’ll not like that".
He twisted his head so he could kiss her forearm.
"Sweet Sis", he said.
"Answer me, Con!"