. From time to time I murmured to
him: "Go steady"--"Take it easy, Ransome"--and received a quick glance
in reply.

When we had done all we could do to make things safe, he disappeared
into his galley. Some time afterward, going forward for a look round, I
caught sight of him through the open door. He sat upright on the locker
in front of the stove, with his head leaning back against the bulkhead.
His eyes were closed; his capable hands held open the front of his
thin cotton shirt baring tragically his powerful chest, which heaved in
painful and laboured gasps. He didn't hear me.

I retreated quietly and went straight on to the poop to relieve Frenchy,
who by that time was beginning to look very sick. He gave me the course
with great formality and tried to go off with a jaunty step, but reeled
widely twice before getting out of my sight.

And then I remained all alone aft, steering my ship, which ran before
the wind with a buoyant lift now and then, and even rolling a little.
Presently Ransome appeared before me with a tray. The sight of food made
me ravenous all at once. He took the wheel while I sat down of the after
grating to eat my breakfast.

"This breeze seems to have done for our crowd," he murmured. "It just
laid them low--all hands."

"Yes," I said. "I suppose you and I are the only two fit men in the
ship."

"Frenchy says there's still a jump left in him. I don't know. It can't
be much," continued Ransome with his wistful smile. "Good little man
that. But suppose, sir, that this wind flies round when we are close to
the land--what are we going to do with her?"

"If the wind shifts round heavily after we close in with the land she
will either run ashore or get dismasted or both. We won't be able to do
anything with her. She's running away with us now. All we can do is to
steer her. She's a ship without a crew."

"Yes. All laid low," repeated Ransome quietly. "I do give them a look-in
forward every now and then, but it's precious little I can do for them."

"I, and the ship, and every one on board of her, are very much indebted
to you, Ransome," I said warmly.

He made as though he had not heard me, and steered in silence till I was
ready to relieve him. He surrendered the wheel, picked up the tray, and
for a parting shot informed me that Mr. Burns was awake and seemed to
have a mind to come up on deck.

"I don't know how to prevent him, sir. I can't very well stop down below
all the time."

It