a bundle to her
breast. More, she was alive, for she began to cry to them to take her
in.

"Save me and my child!" she cried. "For God's sake save me!"

Robert recognized the choking voice; it was that of a young married lady
with whom he had been very friendly, who was going out with her baby to
join her husband in Natal. He stretched out his hand and caught hold of
her, whereon the officer said, heavily:

"The boat is already overladen. I must warn you that to take more aboard
is not safe."

Thereon the passengers awoke from their stupor.

"Push her off," cried a voice; "she must take her chance." And there was
a murmur of approval at the dreadful words.

"For Christ's sake--for Christ's sake!" wailed the drowning woman, who
clung desperately to Robert's hand.

"If you try to pull her in, we will throw you overboard," said the voice
again, and a knife was lifted as though to hack at his arm. Then the
officer spoke once more.

"This lady cannot come into the boat unless someone goes out of it. I
would myself, but it is my duty to stay. Is there any man here who will
make place for her?"

But all the men there--seven of them, besides the crew--hung their heads
and were silent.

"Give way," said the officer in the same heavy voice; "she will drop off
presently."

While the words passed his lips Robert seemed to live a year. Here was
an opportunity of atonement for his idle and luxurious life. An hour ago
he would have taken it gladly, but now--now, with Benita senseless on
his breast, and that answer still locked in her sleeping heart? Yet
Benita would approve of such a death as this, and even if she loved him
not in life, would learn to love his memory. In an instant his mind was
made up, and he was speaking rapidly.

"Thompson," he said to the officer, "if I go, will you swear to take her
in and her child?"

"Certainly, Mr. Seymour."

"Then lay to; I am going. If any of you live, tell this lady how I
died," and he pointed to Benita, "and say I thought that she would wish
it."

"She shall be told," said the officer again, "and saved, too, if I can
do it."

"Hold Mrs. Jeffreys, then, till I am out of this. I'll leave my coat to
cover her."

A sailor obeyed, and with difficulty Robert wrenched free his hand.

Very deliberately he pressed Benita to his breast and kissed her on the
forehead, then let her gently slide on to the bottom of the boat. Next
he slipped off his overcoat and slowly rolled h