ny but that Mr. Allen is far and awa' the best man to have
charge o' the boat. But as there is a meenister here, surely he will now
offer up a prayer to the Almighty for those in peril on the sea, and
especially implore Him to consider a sma' boat, deep to the gunwales."

He looked at the clergyman, who at first made no reply, but stood with
downcast eyes. The men looked at him expectantly; he put one hand on the
table, and then slowly raised his face.

"I think, gentlemen, that ... that Father Roget is the older man." He
spoke haltingly, and a flush dyed his smooth, clean-shaven face from
brow to chin. "Will you not ask him?" Then his eyes dropped again.

Robertson, who was in a hurry, and yet had a sincere but secret respect
for old Bruce's unobtrusive religious feelings, now backed up his mate's
request.

"I think, sir, that as the mate says, a bit of a short prayer would not
be out of place just now, seeing the mess we are in. And that poor old
gentleman over there is too done up to stand on his feet. So will you
please begin, sir. Steward, call the ladies. We can no longer disguise
from them, Mr. Lacy, that we are in a bad way--as bad a way as I have
ever been in during my thirty years at sea."

In a couple of minutes the two De Boos girls, Miss Weidermann, and the
native girl Mina, came out of their cabins; and when the steward said
that Mrs. Lacy felt too ill to leave her berth, her husband could not
help giving an audible sigh of relief. Then he braced up and spoke with
firmness.

"Please shut Mrs. Lacy's door, steward. Mr. Bruce, will you lend me your
church service--I do not want to go into my cabin for my own. My wife, I
fear, has given way."

The mate brought the church service, and then whilst the men stood with
bowed heads, and the women knelt, the clergyman, with strong,
unfaltering voice read the second of the prayers "To be used in Storms
at Sea." He finished, and then sitting down again, placed one hand over
his eyes.

"_The living, the living shall praise Thee_."

It was the old mate who spoke. He alone of the men had knelt beside the
women, and when he rose his face bore such an expression of calmness and
content, that Otway, who five minutes before had been silently cursing
him for his "damned idiotcy," looked at him with a sudden mingled
respect and wonder.

Stepping across to the clergyman, Bruce respectfully placed his hand on
his shoulder, and as he spoke his clear blue eyes smiled a