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the look of surprise upon Jane Clayton's face turned to one
of disgust。 She fairly shuddered in the fellow's face。
〃I would not have been surprised； M。 Rokoff；〃 she said；
had you attempted to force me to submit to your evil desires；
but that you should be so fatuous as to believe that I；
wife of John Clayton； would come to you willingly； even to
save my life； I should never have imagined。 I have known
you for a scoundrel； M。 Rokoff； but until now I had not taken
you for a fool。〃
Rokoff's eyes narrowed； and the red of mortification flushed out
the pallor of his face。 He took a step toward the girl； threateningly。
〃We shall see who is the fool at last；〃 he hissed； 〃when I have
broken you to my will and your plebeian Yankee stubbornness has
cost you all that you hold deareven the life of your babyfor；
by the bones of St。 Peter； I'll forego all that I had planned
for the brat and cut its heart out before your very eyes。
You'll learn what it means to insult Nikolas Rokoff。〃
Jane Clayton turned wearily away。
〃What is the use；〃 she said； 〃of expatiating upon the
depths to which your vengeful nature can sink？ You cannot
move me either by threats or deeds。 My baby cannot judge
yet for himself； but I； his mother； can foresee that should it
have been given him to survive to man's estate he would
willingly sacrifice his life for the honour of his mother。
Love him as I do； I would not purchase his life at such a price。
Did I； he would execrate my memory to the day of his death。〃
Rokoff was now thoroughly angered because of his failure
to reduce the girl to terror。 He felt only hate for her； but it
had come to his diseased mind that if he could force her to
accede to his demands as the price of her life and her child's；
the cup of his revenge would be filled to brimming when he
could flaunt the wife of Lord Greystoke in the capitals of
Europe as his mistress。
Again he stepped closer to her。 His evil face was convulsed
with rage and desire。 Like a wild beast he sprang upon
her； and with his strong fingers at her throat forced her
backward upon the berth。
At the same instant the door of the cabin opened noisily。
Rokoff leaped to his feet； and； turning； faced the Swede cook。
Into the fellow's usually foxy eyes had come an expression
of utter stupidity。 His lower jaw drooped in vacuous harmony。
He busied himself in arranging Lady Greystoke's meal
upon the tiny table at one side of her cabin。
The Russian glared at him。
〃What do you mean；〃 he cried； 〃by entering here
without permission？ Get out！〃
The cook turned his watery blue eyes upon Rokoff and
smiled vacuously。
〃Ay tank it blow purty soon purty hard；〃 he said； and
then he began rearranging the few dishes upon the little table。
〃Get out of here； or I'll throw you out； you miserable blockhead！〃
roared Rokoff； taking a threatening step toward the Swede。
Anderssen continued to smile foolishly in his direction；
but one ham…like paw slid stealthily to the handle of the
long； slim knife that protruded from the greasy cord
supporting his soiled apron。
Rokoff saw the move and stopped short in his advance。
Then he turned toward Jane Clayton。
〃I will give you until tomorrow；〃 he said； 〃to reconsider your
answer to my offer。 All will be sent ashore upon one pretext
or another except you and the child； Paulvitch and myself。
Then without interruption you will be able to witness the
death of the baby。〃
He spoke in French that the cook might not understand
the sinister portent of his words。 When he had done he banged
out of the cabin without another look at the man who had
interrupted him in his sorry work。
When he had gone； Sven Anderssen turned toward Lady
Greystokethe idiotic expression that had masked his
thoughts had fallen away； and in its place was one of
craft and cunning。
〃Hay tank Ay ban a fool；〃 he said。 〃Hay ben the fool。
Ay savvy Franch。〃
Jane Clayton looked at him in surprise。
〃You understood all that he said； then？〃
Anderssen grinned。
〃You bat；〃 he said。
〃And you heard what was going on in here and came to protect me？〃
〃You bane good to me；〃 explained the Swede。 〃Hay treat me like
darty dog。 Ay help you； lady。 You yust vaitAy help you。
Ay ban Vast Coast lots times。〃
〃But how can you help me； Sven；〃 she asked； 〃when all
these men will be against us？〃
〃Ay tank；〃 said Sven Anderssen； 〃it blow purty soon
purty hard；〃 and then he turned and left the cabin。
Though Jane Clayton doubted the cook's ability to be of
any material service to her； she was nevertheless deeply
grateful to him for what he already had done。 The feeling
that among these enemies she had one friend brought the
first ray of comfort that had come to lighten the burden of
her miserable apprehensions throughout the long voyage of
the Kincaid。
She saw no more of Rokoff that day； nor of any other until
Sven came with her evening meal。 She tried to draw him into
conversation relative to his plans to aid her； but all that she
could get from him was his stereotyped prophecy as to the
future state of the wind。 He seemed suddenly to have
relapsed into his wonted state of dense stupidity。
However； when he was leaving her cabin a little later with
the empty dishes he whispered very low； 〃Leave on your
clothes an' roll up your blankets。 Ay come back after you
purty soon。〃
He would have slipped from the room at once； but Jane
laid her hand upon his sleeve。
〃My baby？〃 she asked。 〃I cannot go without him。〃
〃You do wot Ay tal you；〃 said Anderssen； scowling。
〃Ay ban halpin' you； so don't you gat too fonny。〃
When he had gone Jane Clayton sank down upon her berth
in utter bewilderment。 What was she to do？ Suspicions as to
the intentions of the Swede swarmed her brain。 Might she
not be infinitely worse off if she gave herself into his power
than she already was？
No； she could be no worse off in company with the devil
himself than with Nikolas Rokoff； for the devil at least bore
the reputation of being a gentleman。
She swore a dozen times that she would not leave the Kincaid
without her baby； and yet she remained clothed long
past her usual hour for retiring； and her blankets were neatly
rolled and bound with stout cord； when about midnight there
came a stealthy scratching upon the panels of her door。
Swiftly she crossed the room and drew the bolt。 Softly the
door swung open to admit the muffled figure of the Swede。
On one arm he carried a bundle； evidently his blankets。
His other hand was raised in a gesture commanding silence；
a grimy forefinger upon his lips。
He came quite close to her。
〃Carry this；〃 he said。 〃Do not make some noise when
you see it。 It ban you kid。〃
Quick hands snatched the bundle from the cook； and hungry
mother arms folded the sleeping infant t