Rowland's encounter with Myra Selfridge's child

The next morning, Rowland is scrubbing the starboard taffrail when a little girl, Myra Selfridge, runs into the enclosure and clings to his legs. He lifts her and, in jest, holds her over the rail, asking if he should drop her to the fishes. At that moment, Myra Selfridge appears, snatches the child, and stares at Rowland with dilated eyes before disappearing. Rowland realizes the child is hers and that she is married. This incident is later misinterpreted by Mrs. Selfridge as an attempted murder, leading to a complaint to the captain. The captain, already wary of Rowland, uses this as further justification to keep him out of sight.