CHAPTER SEVEN 



She Blows! 



A HIGH SEA was running as the Pilgrim crossed the entrance 

 to the Hudson Straits and her company was very relieved 

 when the captain sailed her into the lee of Resolution 

 Island at the southern tip of Baffin Land. 



As the ship lay hove to waiting for the storm to pass 

 Jonathan stood on deck and gazed for a while at the 

 distant snow-clad peaks, but the icy north wind cut 

 through his clothes and he was soon glad to seek shelter 

 below decks where a different kind of coldness awaited 

 him in the sidelong glances of some of the white men. 

 Jonathan guessed that the superstitious talk of Sykes had 

 had some effect upon the simple minds of these rough 

 seamen and although they were in the minority it made 

 him feel miserable to be regarded as an omen of ill luck 

 in the ship. As he lay in his hammock listening to the 

 sea slapping against the ship's hull it occurred to him that 

 although Sykes himself might be the victim of such super- 

 stitions the real reason for infecting the men's minds 

 with them might be to gain the backing of as many as 

 possible of the crew should it become necessary to rid the 

 ship of the one person who could expose his guilt. Once 

 the three Indian members of the crew had proof that their 

 tribesman had been murdered by Sykes the man's own life 

 would be in danger. Chimoo and his two friends probably 



