t him uncomprehendingly.

"Do you mean to say you are going to stay up all night and sail? But
you have not had a wink of sleep and I shall certainly not go into
that--" she suddenly arose. "How stupid of me! Of course both of us
must stand watch in turn. While you are steering I shall sleep at the
wheel. While I am steering you shall sleep there. How simple! Then
we need not be alone at all. Here, I'll hold the wheel first and you
go to sleep. I shall wake you at midnight, perhaps before if I get
frightened. Then I shall be asleep through those creepy morning hours."

Dan demurred vigorously, but she was steadfast. So he went to the
after cabin and brought out several blankets and a pillow, which she
arranged deftly.

As he prepared to lie down, he looked at the girl.

"See that star up there?" he said. "Well, just keep the vessel going
the way she is, with that star over your shoulder. Don't let it get
anywhere else. If it does, wake me quickly. If you become afraid, or
see anything, let me know at once."

"Yes," said the girl, "I understand. Good-night, Daniel."

"Good-night, Virginia."

In a few minutes Dan was fast asleep. Through the night sailed the
girl, alone, sore afraid, but comforted with the assurance that a touch
of her hand would bring to her the powerful man who slept at her feet.

Straight she stood at the wheel, and tall, like some figure of a
goddess of antiquity. The moon rose, and its light glorified her. It
fell upon the shattered deck, defining every dreary detail. The waves
rose and fell with the lilt of music. The tinkling breeze was cool and
fresh and invigorating. Fear vanished from her. She felt herself a
part of the elements, a part of the night, the lone representative of
life and consciousness, and God amid the waste of primeval desolation.

So she sailed, exalted, ennobled, until long after midnight. When her
thoughts turned to the man sleeping at her feet, she leaned down,
gazing long and earnestly upon his face. Then, as he stirred, she let
her hand rest on his forehead a moment.

"It is time to awaken, Daniel," she said.

He was upon his feet in an instant. There was a strange expression
upon his face.

"I was far away from here," he said. "I was dreaming, the bulliest
sort of a dream."

"Dreaming? And what about, pray?"

"You."

"You were! Tell me the dream."

"They say dreams that are told never come true," replied Dan, slowly.

Thei