He obeyed,
but his looks were so threatening that I momentarily expected him to
attack me.
I now determined to keep awake while Melannie slept in order that I
might watch Van Luck, and I impressed upon the queen that she must
never sleep when I slept. Thus we continued for some nights, keeping
watch and watch about. But I soon found I could not trust Melannie, for
when I awoke I discovered her to be asleep. But in this, as in all
else, Melannie was such a child that I could not find it in my heart to
scold her.
CHAPTER XXIV
HOW MY SECOND VOYAGE ENDED
I now resolved to place Van Luck under restraint, for it was plain to
me he was not responsible for his actions, and with this object in view
I went forward one morning with a rope in my hand, intending to secure
him in some way from harming himself and others. As I approached him
Van Luck, who seemed to divine my purpose, drew back with a savage,
animal-like growl. I tried to pacify him by speaking kindly, but he
suddenly sprang at me with a knife in his hand. I caught his arm before
he could strike, and we fell together upon the thwarts of the boat,
locked in a deadly embrace.
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