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TIGHTENING THE CHAINS 157
English youth, once he started. All Britishers
are slow to begin. I drew back. I did not
want to compromise this young man.
" c
Oh, you must not think it wrong, nothing
is wrong until you arc found out,' he
laughed, tussling with me for another kiss
when we were startled by Claude's angry
voice.
" '
Seduce another
What, you dog I What !
man's wife ? '
" With that he sprang like a wild panther
between us. With one whirl he threw the
young Englishman, with a fearful bang,
against the side of the vessel, then roughly
caught me by the arm and, half dragging,
half shoving me, hurried me off in tears to
my cabin.
" When we arrived at the top stairs leading
to the end deck, he roughly snatched the
diamond ring off my finger and gave me a
push that nearly sent me headlong down the
companion way. I was in tears, and trembling
from head to foot.
"
Claude returned to the discomfited
Britisher ; high words passed between them ;
the mate, captain, and one or two passengers
came on the scene, and the altercation became
stormy. Once in my cabin I quickly divested
myself of clothing, tumbled into bed, and
cried myself to sleep. I liked that young
Englishman. He was at heart a gentleman.
I felt guilty, as though I had committed a
crime. Next day Claude ordered me to keep
to my cabin until I got his permission to