peech, as if she scarcely knew how
to express herself; and Browne, for whom her every action had some
significance, was quick to notice it.

"What is the matter, dear?" he asked. "Why do you look so sadly at me?"

She was about to answer, but she changed her mind.

"Sad?" she murmured, as if surprised. "Why should I be sad? I should
surely be the happiest girl in the world to-night."

"But you are not," he answered. "I can see you're unhappy. Come,
dear, tell me everything. You are grieved, I suppose, at finding your
father so changed? Is not that so?"

"Partly," she answered in a whisper; and then, for some reason of her
own, she added quietly, "but Madame recognised him at once, though she
had not seen him for so many years. My poor father, how much he has
suffered!"

Browne condoled with her, and ultimately succeeded in inducing her to
retire to her cabin, assuring her that MacAndrew and himself would in
turns watch by her father's side until morning.

"How good you are!" she said, and kissed him softly. Then, with
another glance at the huddled-up figure in the easy-chair, but without
kissing him, as Browne had quite expected she would do, she turned and
left the cabin.

It was just two o'clock, and a bitterly cold morning. Though Browne
had declared that MacAndrew would share his vigil with him, he was not
telling the truth, knowing that the other must be worn out after his
travels of the last few days. For this reason he persuaded Jimmy to
take him below, and to get him to bed at once. Then he himself
returned to the deck-house, and set to work to make Katherine's father
as comfortable as possible for the night.

Just after daylight Browne was awakened by a knocking at the door. He
crossed and opened it. It proved to be the captain. He was plainly
under the influence of intense excitement.

"I don't know how to tell you, sir," he said. "I assure you I would
not have had it happened for worlds. I have never been so upset in my
life by anything."

"But what has happened?" inquired Browne, with a sudden sinking at his
heart. "Something has gone wrong in the engine-room," replied the
captain, "and until it has been repaired it will be impossible for us
to get under way."

At that instant the second officer appeared, and touched the captain on
the shoulder, saying something in an undertone.

"What is it?" asked Browne. "What else is wrong?"

"He reports that a man-o'-war can be just