Try as he would, he could not see Peggy alone. He had much that he wanted to say to her and he hungered for the consolation her approval would bring him, but she clung to Pettingill with a tenacity that was discouraging. The old feeling of jealousy that was connected with Como again disturbed him.
“She thinks that I am a hopeless, brainless idiot,” he said to himself. “And I don’t blame her, either.”
Just before nightfall he noticed that his friends were assembling in the bow. As he started to join the group “Subway” Smith and DeMille advanced to meet him. Some of the others were smiling a little sheepishly, but the two men were pictures of solemnity and decision.
“Monty,” said DeMille steadily, “we have been conspiring against you and have decided that we sail for New York tomorrow morning.”
Brewster stopped short and the expression on his face was one they never could forget. Bewilderment, uncertainty and pain succeeded each other like flashes of light. Not a word was spoken for several seconds. The red of humiliation slowly mounted to his cheeks, while in his eyes wavered the look of one who has been hunted down.
“You have decided?” he asked lifelessly, and more than one heart went out in pity to him.
“We hated to do it, Monty, but for your own sake there was no other way,” said “Subway” Smith quickly. “We took a vote and there wasn’t a dissenting voice.”
“It is a plain case of mutiny, I take it,” said Monty, utterly alone and heartsick.
“It isn’t necessary to tell you why we have taken this step,” said DeMille. “It is heartbreaking to oppose you at this stage of the game. You’ve been the best ever and—”
“Cut that,” cried Monty, and his confidence in himself was fast returning. “This is no time to throw bouquets.”
“We like you, Brewster.” Mr. Valentine came to the chairman’s assistance because the others had looked at him so appealingly. “We like you so well that we can’t take the responsibility for your extravagance. It would disgrace us all.”
“That side of the matter was never mentioned,” cried Peggy indignantly, and then added with a catch in her voice, “We thought only of you.”
“I appreciate your motives and I am grateful to you,” said Monty. “I am more sorry than I can tell you that the cruise must end in this way, but I too have decided. The yacht will take you to some point where you can catch a steamer to New York. I shall secure passage for the entire party and very soon you will be at home. Captain Perry, will you oblige me by making at once for any port that my guests may agree upon?” He was turning away deliberately when “Subway” Smith detained him.
“What do you mean by getting a steamer to New York? Isn’t the Flitter good enough?” he asked.
“The Flitter is not going to New York just now,” answered Brewster firmly, “notwithstanding your ultimatum. She is going to take me to the North Cape.”
XXVII
A Fair Traitor
“Now will you be good?” cried Reggie Vanderpool to DeMille as Monty went down the companionway. The remark was precisely what was needed, for the pent-up feelings of the entire company were now poured forth upon the unfortunate young man. “Subway” Smith was for hanging him to the yard arm, and the denunciation of the others was so decisive that Reggie sought refuge in the chart house. But the atmosphere had been materially cleared and the leaders of the mutiny were in a position to go into executive session and consider the matter. The women waited on deck while the meeting lasted. They were unanimous in the opinion that the affair had been badly managed.
“They should have offered to stay by the ship providing Monty would let DeMille manage the cruise,” said Miss Valentine. “That would have been a concession and at the same time it would have put the cruise on an economical basis.”
“In other words, you will accept a man’s invitation to dinner if he will allow you to order it and invite the other guests,” said Peggy, who was quick to defend Monty.
“Well that would be better than helping to eat up every bit of food he possessed.” But Miss Valentine always avoided argument when she could and gave this as a parting thrust before she walked away.
“There must be something more than we know about in Monty’s extravagance,” said Mrs. Dan. “He isn’t the kind of man to squander his last penny without having something left to show for it. There must be a method in his madness.”
“He has done it for us,” said Peggy. “He has devoted himself all along to giving us a good time and now we are showing our gratitude.”
Further discussion was prevented by the appearance of the conspiring committee and the whole company was summoned to hear DeMille’s report as chairman.
“We have found a solution of our difficulties,” he began, and his manner was so jubilant that everyone became hopeful. “It is desperate, but I think it will be effective. Monty has given us the privilege of leaving the yacht at any port where we can take a steamer to New York. Now, my suggestion is that we select the most convenient place for all of us, and obviously there is nothing quite so convenient as Boston.”
“Dan DeMille, you are quite foolish,” cried his wife. “Who ever conceived such a ridiculous idea?”
“Captain Perry has his instructions,” continued DeMille, turning to the captain. “Are we not acting along the lines marked out by Brewster himself?”
“I will sail for Boston if you say the word,” said the thoughtful captain. “But he is sure to countermand such an order.”
“He won’t be able to, captain,” cried “Subway” Smith, who had for some time been eager to
