"I know you gave your word," Scott said carefully as the full import of Hurst's promise to the rajah sank into his tired mind; "but do you really want to stay?"
"Aye, sir," Hurst replied with conviction. He paused. "I really do, cap'n. I told you I had a little trouble with some of th' Cherokees in th' mountains back home."
"I remember."
"Well, sir, I might as well tell you all of it. I was livin' with this squaw—pretty thing, she was, too—but I couldn't get along with one of 'er brothers. I got into a fight with 'im one day—it was one of them things that had to come, sooner or later—an' I killed 'im. Th' fight was fair, an she would've forgiven me, but er brothers wouldn't. So I took out for Charleston to keep from losin' my hair. When you happened into that there tavern, I was just settin', tryin' to figure out what to do. Anyway, to cut it short, I c'n have a barrel of fun in Dams' village. We get along, Darus an' me, an' there's good huntin' in th' jungle an' a passel of likely gals right at hand."
Scott held out his hand. "I never had a better man than you beside me in a fight, Hurst."
Hurst grinned. "That goes for me, too, cap'n. But I ain't leavin' until tomorrow. I'm too damn' tired to travel."
Scott summoned Kimbrell. The big boatswain had barely been winded in the fight for the ship. "You're mate, as of now, Kimbrell. Issue a double ration of grog to all hands and take the watch."
Pleased with his promotion, Kimbrell touched his forehead with the forefinger of his right hand. "Thank you, sir."
Scott felt himself close to physical collapse. But he sought out Dorcas, wanting to see her again before giving in to fatigue. She was in the cabin with her father and Bryant, both of whom were sleeping. Immediately she noticed the grayness of complete exhaustion in his face.
"I'll make a bed for you in my cabin, darling," she said, taking his hand. "You don't mind staying there a little while, do you?"
"No," he said. "Anywhere."
He swayed a little on his feet as they entered her disordered quarters.
"Sit down," she ordered.
He obeyed unquestioningly, watching her work at preparing the bunk. She still wore the snug-fitting sarong and he thought it suited her admirably. Despite sunburn and scratches, her bare shoulders, arms and legs struck him as more than ordinarily beautiful.
"Scott," she said, her back to him.
"Yes?"
"I talked to Zenas a little before I gave him the morphine. I didn't tell him anything; I didn't have to. He knows. He knew when he saw me. The way I feel about you must be written on my face."
"I guess my feelings are pretty plain, too." he said. "You know, Dorcas, with the pepper at Chedula's fort, the pepper in the proas and about one more delivery by Darus the Caroline will be laden. I was thinking we might put in at Calcutta on the way home."
"Calcutta?" she asked, turning suddenly. "Why?"
"To take on a few stores," he answered, getting to his feet and closely watching her perplexed face, "and to find a parson. We'll be a long time getting to Charleston."
Her face lighted up. In his arms again she didn't have to tell him that she wished Calcutta as near as Quallah Battoo.
