I was a little cut at this. I am not handsome, and that made it hurt all the more.
I closed the book and looked out my door into the forward cabin. It was empty. Noiselessly I stole to the door in the bulkhead and looked into the after cabin. It was empty also, and from the sounds that came from the skipper’s room it appeared that he and the passengers were absorbed in conversation over our recent danger. Here was my chance. I went softly to Mrs. Waters’s door and turned the latch. It opened and I saw that all was dark within, so I quickly deposited the book into what I supposed was the empty bunk and turned to flee. Instantly I felt my hair seized from behind and a piercing shriek rent the air close to my ear. I struggled frantically to escape, and had just gained the centre of the cabin when Crojack’s door flew open and he and his niece rushed out into the room.
The two staterooms were directly opposite and opened into the main cabin, so it was evident that he had heard the shriek and had sprung to the rescue.
He was upon me in an instant, and I believe would certainly have killed me before I could have said a word of explanation, had it been in his power to do so.
As it was, I gripped him around the body, holding his arms to his sides and strove to explain matters.
Mrs. Waters tugged lustily at my hair and screamed at the top of her voice, while her daughter looked on in consternation.
In a few moments the good lady let go my hair and very properly fainted. Then I soon had Crojack listening to reason.
When matters were straightened out a little, I went back to my bunk and lay there all the rest of my watch below, cursing my ill luck.
I said, in the beginning, that I was broad-minded, and I’ve always believed that, if there is an all-good and all-powerful Creator, there can be no wrong deduced from any action. He could and would prevent it.
Therefore, from this logical standpoint, there can be no wrong, for every one must believe in an all-good and all-powerful Creator.
From a social or religious standpoint the matter is quite different. A person can do much wrong from this standpoint.
This is not entirely a new line of reasoning, perhaps, but I’ve since come to the conclusion that it might have appeared so to Crojack and his niece at that time. Both of those looked upon that absurd affair from an illogical standpoint. Which goes to show how much wrong can be done a man by being more religious than logical. Why do good women always suspect wrong of good men? Bah!