ve not moved during the night, and that the boats are still out.
What ship is that out there on our port beam?"

"That's the _Platonic_, sir. Arrived 'bout three hours ago. And the
_Cotopaxi_--belongin' to your own company--and the _Nigerian_, they're
lyin' about half a mile off to starboard of us. They comed up pretty
near together, 'bout two hours ago, and all of 'em lowered their boats
straight away. Don't know exactly what luck they've had. They've
picked up a good many, I b'lieve, but I'm afraid very few of em'll be
alive after floatin' about so many hours in the cold. Clothes
genle'men? Yes, certainly. They're in the dryin' room. I dessay
they're quite dry by this time. I'll fetch 'em for ye in a brace of
shakes."

"How are the others getting on, steward?" demanded Earle. "You picked
up everybody from the boats, I suppose? What with them and your regular
passengers, the ship must be like a rabbit warren!"

"So she is, sir," grinned the steward. "They're scattered about all
over her. We make up shake-downs for 'em wherever we could find a
blessed inch of space. They're in the smoke-room, the ladies' boodwor,
the lib'ry, the drorin'-room, dinin' saloon, the officers' quarters,
and--why, some of the men is even down in the stokeholds. Oh yes, we
took 'em all aboard, of course. But I expect we shall thin 'em out a
good bit presently. Ye see they was all bound for Noo York, and the
_Platonic_ and _Nigerian_ are both goin' there, so I expect they'll take
the bulk of 'em between 'em. And if there's any as wants to go back
home, the _Cotopaxi_ and us'll take 'em. I haven't heard how they're
feelin' after their spell in the boats, but I reckon they're all right.
That wasn't no very great hardship for 'em, exceptin' for the kiddies.
They was a bit frightened, naterally. And now, if you'll excuse me,
gen'lemen, I'll go and get your clothes, for there'll be a lot to do
presen'ly."

There was. For after the entire area of the surrounding sea had been
carefully swept by the boats until it was ascertained that no more
living or dead were to be found, there came the task of providing
breakfast for everybody, in itself a task of no small magnitude under
the circumstances. And while the meal was in progress, the officers of
the _Bolivia_ were going round among the rescued people, carefully
noting the names of the survivors for transmission to England and
America by wireless. Then followed the gruesome ta