OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 125
But you'll have a good view of the prisoners when they're going
up the Jacob's ladder."
" Well I never! Have they to climb up a ladder? "
Her eyes were dry, and indeed she showed no signs of distress;
and it was this strange calmness that alarmed the others. The skipper
whispered to the man beside him :
" I once saw a woman jump overboard just when the convictship
weighed anchor."
As an extra precaution he detailed one of the crew to keep watch
on their uninvited passenger.
" Why ever do they make them wear those horrid clothes? " she
murmured. " A proper shame I call it! "
One of the camera-men, noticing her accent, remarked:
" You're Belgian, aren't you? I didn't know there were any
Belgians in this lot."
But she still refused to let herself be drawn. She was wearing
cotton gloves, shoes that were rather down at heel, and obviously
home-made stockings.
" How'll you manage about your bag? "
" My bag? I haven't thought about it. Anyhow, I shall be starting
back this evening."
Evidently she was not concerned for the fate of the handbag. All
the time her eyes were fixed on the tenders and the rows of heads
showing above the rails, all in the same grotesquely shaped cloth
caps.
" If only I had field-glasses! " she sighed.
One of the crew handed her a pair, but she didn't know how to
focus them, and after some vain attempts she gave them back.
The convict-ship was looming up just ahead. A yacht glided past,
with young men and women in white dresses lounging on the
deck.
Someone said :
" Look! They're going'on board now."
One of the tenders had made fast alongside the steamer, and
men could be seen climbing up the ladder. But when the motorlaunch
approached, a peremptory blast from the ship's siren warned
them to stand off. The sailor on duty beside the woman held himself
in readiness to pounce on her if she made the least move.
Crowded together on the deck of a small fishing-boat, the gypsies
passed them. All were standing, craning their necks towards the
convict-ship, shading their eyes with their hands.