rms and wept. After
awhile the storm passed and she leaned back.

He kissed her suddenly. Then he abruptly turned to the door and went
out.

Schofield had suddenly come to his senses and disengaged himself from
Elsa's embrace.

CHAPTER XXV

THE GUILT FIXED

It was the following afternoon before Code Schofield ventured on
deck.

When he did so it was to find that all naval uniforms had been laid
aside, the imitation brass guns forward had been removed, and the
schooner so altered that she would scarcely have been recognized as
the _Albatross_.

The wireless had been erected again, and now the apparatus was
spitting forth an almost constant series of messages. The crew,
spotless in dungarees and without a vestige of a weapon, maneuvered
the schooner as Code had never in his life seen a vessel handled. At a
word from the officer of the watch they jumped as one man. Every order
was executed on the run, and all sails were swayed as flat and taut as
boards.

Code found Elsa ensconced with a book under the awning amidships. Big,
comfortable wicker chairs were about and the deck so lately cleared
for action had an almost homelike look.

"Did you sleep well?" asked the girl with an entire lack of
self-consciousness, as though the episode of the night before had
never occurred. Code was very thankful for her tact and much relieved.
It was evident that their relations for the remainder of the four
days' journey north were to be impersonal unless he chose to make them
otherwise. This he had no intention of doing--after his morning's
battle with himself.

"Like a top, when I got started," he replied. "And you?"

"Splendidly, thanks. And you should have seen the breakfast I ate. I
am a shameful gourmand when I am at sea."

He took a chair and filled his pipe.

"By the way, how long have you been out on this cruise? You weren't
aboard, were you, the time the mystery schooner led the revenue
steamer such a chase?"

"No," she replied, "but I wish I had been. I nearly died when I heard
about that; it was so funny. I have only been aboard about four days.
I'll tell you the history of it.

"I was having a very delightful dinner up at Mallaby House with Mrs.
Tanner, Nellie's mother, you know"--she looked unconcernedly out to
sea--"when I got a message, part wireless and part telegram, saying
that Nat Burns had nabbed you in St. Pierre and was racing with you to
St. Andrew's.

"Well, I've sworn all along that