t
here in my dark cabin, and listened to you reading that prayer, my
husband's face came before me--the face that I thought was so dull and
stupid. And his eyes seemed so soft and kind--"

"For God's sake, my dear little woman, don't think of what is past. We
have made the plunge together----"

The woman uttered one last sobbing sigh. "I am not afraid to die, Will.
I am not afraid, but when I heard you begin to read that prayer, my
courage forsook me. I wanted to scream--to rush out and stop you, for it
seemed to me as if you were doing it in sheer mockery."

"I can only say again, Nell, that I could not help myself; made me feel
pretty sick, I assure you."

Their voices ceased, and presently Lacy stepped out into the main cabin,
and then went on deck again.

Robertson met him with a cheerful face. "Come on, Mr. Lacy. I've some
good news for you--we are making less water! The leak must be taking up
in some way." Then holding on to the rail with one hand, he shouted to
the men at the pumps.

"Shake her up, boys! shake her up. Here's Mr. Lacy come to lend a hand,
and the supercargo and steward will be with you in a minute. Now I'm
going below for a minute to tell the ladies, and mix you a bucket of
grog. Shake her up, you, Tom Tarbucket, my bully boy with a glass eye!
Shake her up, and when she sucks dry, I'll stand a sovereign all round."

The willing crew answered him with a cheer, and Tom Tarbucket, a
square-built, merry faced native of Savage Island, who was stripped to
the waist, shouted out, amid the laughter of his shipmates--

"Ay, ay, capt'in, we soon make pump suck dry if two Miss de Boos girl
come."

Robertson laughed in response, and then picking up a wooden bucket from
under the fife rail, clattered down the companion way.

"Where are you, Otway? Up you get on deck, and you too, steward. The
leak is taken up and 'everything is lovely and the goose hangs high.' Up
you go to the pumps, and make 'em suck. I'll bring up some grog
presently."

Then as Otway and the steward sprang up on deck, the captain stamped
along the cabin in his sodden sea boots, banging at each door.

"Come out, Sarah, come out Sukie, my little chickabiddies--there's to be
no boat trip for you after all. Miss Weidermann, I've good news, good
news! Mrs. Lacy, cheer up, dear lady. The leak has taken up, and you can
go on deck and see your husband working at the pumps like a number one
chop Trojan. Ha! Father Roget, give me your