ols! Make
fast to the bits for'ard--let go y'r line--that'll do. Soh--soh. There,
she's coming up."

The dory had been towing astern, and the seas combing over her had
swamped her. Moran had been inspired to use the swamped boat as a
sea-anchor, fastening her to the schooner's bow instead of to the stern.
The "Bertha's" bow, answering to the drag, veered around. The "Bertha"
stood head to the seas, riding out the squall. It was a masterpiece of
seamanship, conceived and executed in the very thick of peril, and it
saved the schooner.

But there was little time to think of themselves. On board the bark the
sails were still set. The squall struck the "Lady Letty" squarely aback.
She heeled over upon the instant; then as the top hamper carried away
with a crash, eased back a moment upon an even keel. But her cargo had
shifted. The bark was doomed. Through the flying spray and scud and rain
Wilbur had a momentary glimpse of Kitchell, hacking at the lanyards with
his axe. Then the "Lady Letty" capsized, going over till her masts
were flat with the water, and in another second rolled bottom up. For
a moment her keel and red iron bottom were visible through the mist of
driving spoon-drift. Suddenly they sank from sight. She was gone.

And then, like the rolling up of a scroll, the squall passed, the sun
returned, the sky burned back to blue, the ruggedness was smoothed
from the ocean, and the warmth of the tropics closed around the "Bertha
Millner," once more rolling easily on the swell of the ocean.

Of the "Lady Letty" and the drunken beach-combing Captain not a trace
remained. Kitchell had gone down with his prize. The "Bertha Millner's"
Chinese crew huddled forward, talking wildly, pointing and looking in a
bewildered fashion over the sides.

Wilbur and Moran were left alone on the open Pacific.

V. A Girl Captain

When Wilbur came on deck the morning after the sinking of the bark he
was surprised to find the schooner under way again. Wilbur and Charlie
had berthed forward during that night--Charlie with the hands, Wilbur in
the Captain's hammock. The reason for this change of quarters had
been found in a peremptory order from Moran during the dog-watch the
preceding evening.

She had looked squarely at Wilbur from under her scowl, and had said
briefly and in a fine contralto voice, that he had for the first
time noted: "I berth aft, in the cabin; you and the Chinaman forward.
Understand?"

Moran had onl