THE HIGH SEA
517
it was, a thing beyond belief. . . . Well, by the time the thing caught
up with them he could pretty certainly find something else as good,
or better somewhere else. He might go in business for hirnself, in
Mexico or in South America, perhaps even in New York, but only
as a last resort. Facing the perpetual question as he did, his mind
turned dry and practical, he could not feel fated, destined for catas–
trophe ; he could not imagine himself as not in complete possession
of his own future so far as
his
own capacities allowed. Surely he and
Mary would never be put on a boat, penniless, prisoners, to be sent
into another country that did not want them either, like that un–
balanced Spanish woman with her confused, senseless story of
terror. Poor woman, he thought, but his pity was impersonal, auto–
matic, and he was unable to imagine what was really happening
to her, or why. He went up on deck, and saw Dr. Sacher leaning over
the rail observing the steerage passengers with a very thoughtful
face. He greeted Freytag mildly, a..nd shook his head.
"They seem to be more comfortable this morning," said Frey–
tag. The people were moving sluggishly, but they were moving, busy
with their hands, putting things to rights. Some of the men were
smoking, and the huge shapeless man in the cherry pink shirt, who
had sung as the. ship left Vera Cruz, stood among them, legs apart,
roaring another song, a few scattered words rising on the wind. Other
men rolling up their bundles, or opening canvas chairs, stopped now
and then to listen, smiling broadly and joining in a phrase or chorus.
The women had managed to wash a few faded shirts and baby rags.
A long line of them flapped from a cord hung so low every one had
to stoop under it as he crossed the deck. There seemed to be more
space and no one was actively sick.
"They will do very well if we don't run into weather," said
Dr. Sacher. "Broken arms, legs , heads, maybe necks," he said, looking
down at them. "They have no place to make themselves secure, there
are too many of them, I see some very sick men down there, and more
than a dozen pregnant women. I am hoping the weather holds at
least until the Bay of Biscay."
"It is always rough in the Bay of Biscay," said Freytag.
"Yes, but these will all be left safely behind at Teneriffe."
"At least they are going home," said Freytag. Dr. Sacher did not
answer. He seemed a trifle gloomy and under the weather himself and
barely nodded when Freytag moved away.
David saw Jenny, looking very smooth and fresh, standing at the
bulletin board with Mrs. Treadwell. He went straight up and joined
them, meaning to take Jenny away and have
it
out with her. "Why
