gs bobbing up and down in the water over
there?" she asked.

"I believe that is the torpedo testing ground," he said.

"Torpedoes! Ugh!" She shrugged her shoulders. "Mother knew
Vereshchagin, who was in the _Petrapavlovsk_ when she struck the
Japanese torpedo and turned upside down. Do you know anything about
torpedoes?"

"Not much; a little." Armitage thrilled at the first sign she had
given him that she considered or was in any way curious regarding his
personality.

She looked at him.

"I am certain I have seen you before," she said. "You don't live in
Newport?"

"That is not my home," said Armitage. "I come from Kentucky. I am
something of a wanderer, being a sort of fighter by profession."

The girl started.

"Not a prize fighter?" She glanced quickly at the handsome, square,
fighting face, the broad chest and shoulders, and flushed. "Are you
really that?"

Armitage had intended to tell her he was a naval officer, but obsessed
of the imp of mischief, he nodded.

"I can imagine situations wherein I might fight for a prize."

She overlooked what she regarded as the apparent modesty of his answer.

"Really!" she exclaimed. "How interesting! Now I am glad I met you.
I had no idea you were that, of all things. You seemed--" She checked
herself. "But tell me, how did you begin? Tommy Dallas is keen on
your sort. Did he ever--ever back you, I believe he calls it--in a
fight?"

The new trend speedily had become distasteful to Armitage, who inwardly
was floundering for a method of escape from the predicament into which
his folly had led him. He had no wish to pose as a freak in her eyes.
Still, no solution offered itself.

"No," he said at length, "he never backed me. As a matter of fact, I
am more of a physical instructor, now."

"Oh," she said, disappointedly, "I was going to gloat over Tommy.
Physical instructor! Do you know father is looking for one for my two
kid brothers? Why don't you apply?"

"Thanks," said Armitage, a bit ungraciously, "perhaps I shall."

Plainly the girl's interest in him was fast waning. Extremely
chapfallen and deeply disgusted with himself, Armitage bowed, and,
muttering something about looking after his luggage, withdrew.

CHAPTER III

PRINCE VASSILI KOLTSOFF

When Miss Wellington entered the cabin she found her mother in the same
position in which she had left her, but her eyes were open, looking
straight at the girl.

"Mother, I never