Mary?"

"Peggy!" cried Brewster angrily. "This has gone far enough."

"You should have spoken sooner, Monty," she said quietly.

"What are you going to do, Margaret?" cried Mrs. Dan, her eyes wide
with amazement.

"I am going to marry the Son of the Prophet," she replied so decidedly
that every one gasped. A moment later she was surrounded by a group of
excited women, and Captain Perry was calling the "jackies" forward in a
voice of thunder.

Brewster pushed his way to her side, his face as white as death.

"This isn't a joke, Peggy," he cried. "Go below and I'll get rid of the
sheik."

Just then the burly Algerian asserted himself. He did not like the way
in which his adored one was being handled by the "white dogs," and with
two spearmen he rushed up to Brewster, jabbering angrily.

"Stand back, you idiot, or I'll punch your head off," said Brewster,
with sudden emphasis.

It was not until this moment that Peggy realized that there might be a
serious side to the little farce she and Mary had decided to play for
the punishment of Brewster. Terror suddenly took the place of mirth,
and she clung frantically to Monty's arm. "I was joking, Monty, only
joking," she cried. "Oh, what have I done?"

"It's my fault," he exclaimed, "but I'll take care of you, never fear."

"Stand aside!" roared the sheik threateningly.

The situation was ominous. Frightened as they were the women could not
flee, but stood as if petrified. Sailors eagerly swarmed to the deck.

"Get off this boat," said Monty, ominously calm, to the interpreter,
"or we'll pitch you and your whole mob into the sea."

"Keep cool! Keep cool!" cried "Subway" Smith quickly. He stepped
between Brewster and the angry suitor, and that action alone prevented
serious trouble. While he parleyed with the sheik Mrs. DeMille hurried
Peggy to a safe place below deck, and they were followed by a flock of
shivering women. Poor Peggy was almost in tears and the piteous glances
she threw at Brewster when he stepped between her and the impetuous
sheik, who had started to follow, struck deep into his heart and made
him ready to fight to the death for her.

It took nearly an hour to convince the Algerian that Peggy had
misunderstood him and that American women were not to be wooed after
the African fashion. He finally departed with his entire train,
thoroughly dissatisfied and in high dudgeon. At first he threatened to
take her by force; then he agreed to give her an