I could not tell, for the chief thing I had seen in her face was undoubtedly a vast confusion at the publicity of my declaration.

In my mind also was the contradiction of Helier Le Marchant's assertion that Torode would take no Island man into his crew, and his fathers advice to go and try him.

I was inclined to think that Helier would prove right, for, even with my four years' experience of men and things, I saw that Monsieur Le Marchant was beyond my understanding.
My boat swirled into the narrow way between Herm and Jethou, where the water came up lunging and thrusting like great black jelly-fish.

I dropped my sail and took the oars, and stood with my face to the bows and pulled cautiously among the traps and snares that lay thick on every side and still more dangerously out of sight.

So I crept round the south of Herm and drew into the little roadstead on the west.
And the first thing I saw, and saw no other for a while, was the handsomest ship I had ever set eyes on.