The Captain of the Kansas

bin. Spray leaped over the ship in such dense sheets that a considerable quantity of water quickly lodged on the port side where Courtenay's bunk was fixed. There was no means of escape

uncharted shoal in a locality situate many miles from the known danger zone. Elsie, strung half-consciously to the highest tension by the affrighting probability of being set adrift in a small boat at the mercy of the sea roaring without-a sea which pounded the steel hull of

ll from its folds. She placed the coat on the writing-table, and endeavored to stuff the letters into a pigeon-hole. They were too bulky, so she laid the

reasoned reflection. A series of mental pictures, a startling jumble of ideas-trivial as the wish to save the clothes from a wetting, tremendous as the near prospect of eternity-danced through her brain with bewildering clearness. She felt that if she were fated to live to a ripe old age she would never forget a single detail o

nd that she was back in her pleasant room at the Morrisons' hacienda, or tucked up in her own comfortable cabin. Yet here was proof positive that the terror which environed her was real. Bound up with the thunder of the gale were the words, "Your loving sister, Madge"-evidently the sister Captain Courtenay had

dly enough, was written on differently sized and variously colored note-paper. And it could be seen at a glance that they were from as many different people. The outside le

ce at the top of the page twice before she actually grasped its purport. When i

er circumstances would I wish to greet and

nd. Why had he not come for her? Surely there must have been some further mishap! Heavens! Was she alone on the ship, alone with the dead men and the dying vessel? Her head swam with a strange faintness, and she placed a hand

disregard for sentiment displayed by a fox-terrier who has just c

e leaped up on the table beside Elsie, and looked at her a

the splashing water in the cabin, if his master were injured. She was doubtful now whether to go on deck or not. The mere presence of the dog was a guarantee that Courtenay had not quitted the ship. Indeed, Elsie colored again, and more deeply, at the disloyalty of her ungovern

said, "I wish

rtainly have gone round the whole ship since he left her. What could have detained him? She was yielding to nervousness again, and was on the point of venturin

would have a smile for a woman even on his death-bed. "There, now! Don't try to explain you

l action, no less than Dr. Christobal's manner, suggested that they were engaged in some fantastic picnic. The outer horrors were not for them, apparentl

test cognizance of her suffering; at the next, she felt that speech was impossible until she drank. Never before had she known what thi

doctor. "Now, if you don't mind

d her faculties helped more than she suspect

; "and why are you taking things

But circumstances proved too strong for him. We

lower any of

gone some time. I imagined you knew

t she felt that her companion's glib tone was artificial. Something had occurred which he was keeping from her. She believed

aid. "He had other matters to attend to than explaining the progress of events to me. Why cannot you tru

Baring and Mr

es

h away by this time. When their boat wa

pose

aid on board when some of the crew let go the ropes.

e no oth

characteristic gesture. He was so emph

crew escaped in that way. Four men, who were left behind, promised obedience, and Malcolm, the steward, was placed in charge, with Mr. Gray as second in command. One of the engineers, acting on the captain's orders, brought a can of oil from the engine-room and threw it over the side in handfuls. The result was magical. We lowered the boat easily, placed Monsieur de Poincilit on board, because he was worse than the women, and then Courtenay, as you know, brought Isobel, the minister's

ationality he was a true hidalgo. Indeed, there was a touch of vanity in the way he examined the sparkle of the champagne he now poured into Elsie's empty glass. He scrutinized

rand, but of

y friend and she herself were accepting an extr

remain on the

tive list. The captain

llemache, and ourselv

is Mr.

very badly wounded. I bandaged him as well as

aloon? Should w

andy. Believe me, we can do nothing more for him. I told Courtenay it was quit

en," said Elsie, and, for some reason, the light

d of injured men on b

hem no aid. I thought i

bring you some wine a

not be f

you sa

rising. If that is so, our only hope is in the raft which our three allies are now const

nding awkwardly on the inclined deck. She bent her head to hide the smile on her lips; she noticed that Joey was panting, the use of his teeth on various wet legs during the tussle for the jolly-boat having caused him to swallow more salt-water than he cared for. Elsie's sym

in the cabin swirled across the floor as the ship was restored to an even keel. The movement dislodged the pack

aid, "I find y

ardoned for seeking an explanat

ny woman being able to attend to a dog and pick up a bundle of letters a

e best thing th

lady, we should

o you

ow, but I assume that the h

. These very movements seem to me to argue buoyan

was Walker, the engineer, a lank, swarthy man, with long black mustaches which drooped f

stobal. The captain thin

e, too?" a

ie. You b

ore you go-is the s

abin. "A vewy wet bone," he added, with a broad grin, for the Northumbrian had a ready w

e infected by belief," said Christobal to Elsie.

e had thought that to be possible when the awful knowledge first came to her that the Kansas was ashore! How long ago was that? Then she remembered that when Courtenay placed her in his cabin with the promise to bring Isobel to her, she had noticed the time-eleven o'clock. Was it conceivable that only one hour had elapsed since she and her four-footed friend

are but as yesterday when it is p

ious assortment." It was her intent to find the psalm containing that awe-inspiring verse, and read the whole of it, but, in turning over the leaves, she came upon a scrap of paper with notes on it. The handwriting was scholarly and legible. She thought that Captain Courtenay would probably write just

the two pages which opened at the marker, and, in th

I answered thee in the secret place of thunder;

roximating to hysterical fright than she had been at any previous time during that most trying night. The truth was, though she could not realize it, that her senses were far too alert, her brain too preoccupied, to permit of such an ordered task as reading. In her mind's eye, she saw the boats, with their cowering occupants, plunging and tossing in that fre

that the Kansas was afloat again. At last she noticed that the water in the cabin was gurgling to and fro, and, in the same instant, she felt the regular swing of the mov

ed. "The ship's under weigh, an', as yo' pwobably wingi

reach the bridge companion. Courtenay was in the chart-house, at the wheel. He gave her a friendl