He saw the captain put his hand on her shoulder, and was preparing himself with a certain zest for what might follow, when the "old man" seemed to recollect himself, and came striding down all the length of the saloon.

At this move the ship-keeper promptly dodged out of sight, as you may believe, and heard the captain slam the inner door of the passage.

After that disappointment the ship-keeper waited resentfully for them to clear out of the ship.

It happened much sooner than he had expected.

The girl walked out on deck first.