ater.
It was what he had been hoping to find, after the assurance from the
master: the partial cargo of lumber in the hold had settled to the deck
when the schooner tipped over. Investigating with groping hands, he
assured himself that there were fully three feet of space between the
cargo and the bottom of the vessel.

"Come here with your daughter, Captain Candage!" he called, cheerily.
"It's dry in here."

He kneeled and held his hands out through the opening, directing them
with his voice, reaching into the pitchy darkness until her hands found
his, and then he brought her up to him and in upon the lumber.

"It's a little better, even if it's nothing to brag about," he told her.
"Sit over there at one side so that the men can crawl in past you. I'll
need them to help me."

"And what do you think now--shall we die?" she asked, in tremulous
whisper.

"No, I don't think so," he told her, stoutly.

They were alone in the hold for a few moments while the others were
helping one another through the opening.

"But in this trap--in the dark--crowded in here!" Her tone did not
express doubt; it was pathetic endeavor to understand their plight. "My
father and his men are frightened--they have given up. And you told me
that you are frightened!"

"Yes, I am!"

"But they are not doing anything to help you."

"Perhaps that is because they are not scared as much as I am. It often
happens that the more frightened a man is in a tight place the more he
jumps around and the harder he tries to get out."

"I don't care what you say--I know what you are!" she rejoined. "You are
a brave man, Captain Mayo. I thank you!"

"Not yet! Not until--"

"Yes, now! You have set me a good example. When folks are scared they
should not sit down and whimper!"

He reached and found a plump little fist which she had doubled into a
real knob of decision.

"Good work, little girl! Your kind of grit is helping me." He released
her hand and crawled forward.

"This ain't helping us any," complained Captain Candage. "I know what's
going to happen to us. As soon as it gets daylight a cussed coast-guard
cutter will come snorting along and blow us up without bothering to find
out what is under this turkle-shell."

"Say, look here, Candage," called Captain Mayo, angrily, "that's enough
of that talk! There's a-plenty happening to us as it is, without your
infernal driveling about what _may_ happen."

"Isn't it about time for a real man to h