I was startled by the mountain of luggage around which mine was no more than a fringe.

Ship's stores, was my first thought, until I noted the number of trunks, boxes, suit-cases, and parcels and bundles of all sorts.

The initials on what looked suspiciously like a woman's hat trunk caught my eye--"M.W." Yet Captain West's first name was Nathaniel.
On closer investigation I did find several "N.W's." but everywhere I could see "M.W's." Then I remembered that he had called her Margaret.
I was too angry to return to the cabin, and paced up and down the cold deck biting my lips with vexation.

I had so expressly stipulated with the agents that no captain's wife was to come along.

The last thing under the sun I desired in the pet quarters of a ship was a woman.