THE ELUSIVE BOWHEAD 75 



helping to scrub the decks and were glad of the oppor- 

 tunity to talk with each other after the excitement of the 

 day but Jonathan noticed that his friend's manner was 

 much more subdued than usual and he instinctively 

 associated the change with the dreaded person of Sykes. 

 At once his own only too familiar uneasiness of mind 

 returned and for a while the two friends scrubbed in 

 silence. 



Then among the others working at the far end of the 

 deck Jonathan saw Sykes straighten his back from the 

 scrubbing. In the jnan's eyes there was a furtiveness that 

 betrayed his ill-concealed fear, and when they looked at 

 the boy they were full of utter hate. 



Joseph's silence was unusual. He was always so ready 

 to talk and so gay in his manner. It occurred to Jonathan 

 that his friend was concealing something from him. 



'Tell me, Joseph,' he murmured softly, 'something has 

 happened, has it not?' 



'Yes,' replied Joseph, 'but wait until we can be alone.' 



When the scrubbing was finished they went to the ship's 

 bows and pretended to be looking at some dolphins that 

 were frolicking near some floes. 



'I know now,' said Joseph, as they leant on the bul- 

 warks, 'what it is that has troubled you for so long. Last 

 night Chimoo awakened me and we stood by your ham- 

 mock listening to you talking in your sleep. Your words 

 were disjointed but they told Chimoo that which he has 

 long suspected — that Sykes murdered his brother.' 



'Chimoo's brother!' cried Jonathan in astonishment. 



'Yes, of course. I thought you knew that,' said 

 Joseph. 



'I only knew that he was an Indian. Does Sykes know 

 about my talking in my sleep ?' 



'No, he was on watch and Chimoo and I were the only 

 ones who heard. Chimoo will say nothing to him yet 

 because we heard you mumbling something about Sykes 



