, he disinterred his
terrified face from amidst the folds of his coverings, looking as pale
as a Niobe in marble.

"Wha-wha-what do you want?" Llewellyn stammered out, with his usual
stutter when spoken to sharply.

"Rouse up, man, and turn out at once," said Mr Meldrum. "What do you
mean by hiding yourself here, cowering in a corner like a frightened
hound, when the ship's in danger and there's work for all hands to do."

"I thought she was going down, sir, and--and--"

"And you hadn't the pluck to face your fate like a man, eh!" continued
Mr Meldrum, finishing his sentence for him. "But you must know that
brave men don't allow cowards to hamper their movements! Get up at
once, sir, and see about raising up all the tinned meats and cabin
stores you can fetch out of the steerage. Now, look sharp!"

"Ye-e-es, sir," replied Llewellyn, crawling unwillingly out of his
corner; "but, Cap'en Dinks said--"

"No matter what Captain Dinks said," interrupted Mr Meldrum, "I've got
his authority for what I am doing, and order you at once to set about
getting the provisions up for the boats. We'll shortly have to abandon
the ship; and, if you don't obey my orders, you shall be left behind."

"I'll do it at once, sir," answered the steward with alacrity, the
threat of being abandoned in the sinking vessel being quite sufficient
to expedite his movements; and he at once made for the after hatch to
get down into the hold, Mr Meldrum satisfying himself that he had set
about the task before leaving him, and then, with a kindly word or two
to Kate and Mr Lathrope, going on deck again.

On gaining the poop, Mr Meldrum found that the snow had ceased to fall,
the gale having gone down a bit. There was also a clear sky overhead,
and a few stars were shining out; but the heavy misty fog still hung
over the water, like a curtain, preventing the view of anything beyond a
limited range from the sides of the ship, while the sea was extremely
rough, the waves being nasty and choppy, as if some current or tideway
was working against the wind, causing the rollers to break over the
battered bows every now and then in sheets of foam.

However, the outlook was better than he expected; and, besides, he could
see, on looking round, that no time had been lost by Captain Dinks and
the crew since he had been below.

The wreck of the main-mast and mizzen-mast, with the yards and sails
attached, which had been knocking about in the water along