No longer did shame send a flush into his face.

He had spoken his love, though not in words, and he knew that the girl understood him.

It did not occur to him in these moments that he had known this girl for only a few hours, that until now a word had never passed between them.

He was conscious only that he had loved her from the time he saw her through the king's window, that he had risked his life for her, and that she knew why he had leaped into the arena at the whipping-post.
The words she spoke now came like a dash of cold water in his face.
"Your ship is not bombarding St.James, Captain Plum!" she exclaimed.
Darkness hid the terror in her face but he could hear the tremble of it in her voice.

"The _Typhoon_ has been captured by the Mormons and those guns are--guns of triumph--and not--" She caught her breath in a convulsive sob.